Park Geun-hye served as the 11th president of South Korea, holding the office from 2013 until her removal in 2017. As the eldest daughter of former president Park Chung Hee, she held a unique position in national history, first serving as acting first lady during the 1970s before eventually securing the presidency in her own right.
Early Life and Education
Born in Daegu in 1952, she moved to Seoul in 1953. Her academic background includes Jangchung Elementary School and Sacred Heart Girls' Middle and High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering from Sogang University in 1974. Following the death of her mother, she pursued further studies at Grenoble Alpes University and Joseph Fourier University in France.
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Park entered the National Assembly in 1998, serving consecutive terms until 2012. She gained prominence as the leader of the Grand National Party between 2004 and 2006, a period during which she earned the nickname Queen of Elections for her successful management of party campaigns. She later oversaw the rebrand to the Saenuri Party before her 2013 presidential victory.
Impeachment and Legal Proceedings
In 2016, the National Assembly impeached Park following allegations of influence peddling involving her aide, Choi Soon-sil. The Constitutional Court upheld the ruling in 2017, leading to her removal from the presidency. Subsequent criminal trials resulted in lengthy prison sentences for corruption and abuse of power. In December 2021, she received a presidential pardon on compassionate grounds, and she was released at the end of that month.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Daegu
- Presidency: 2013–2017
- Education: Sogang University
- Languages: French, Spanish, English, Chinese, Korean
- Religion: Atheism
- Parliamentary service: 1998–2012
- First Lady term: 1974–1979
Questions readers ask
What was Park Geun-hye's role before becoming president?
She served as a member of the National Assembly for multiple terms and acted as the first lady of South Korea from 1974 to 1979.
Why was she removed from office?
She was impeached by the National Assembly in 2016 and removed by the Constitutional Court in 2017 due to charges related to influence peddling.
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