Park Geun-hye, South Korean politician, 11th President of South Korea

Park Geun-hye: South Korea's First Female President and Her Tumultuous Legacy

Park Geun-hye (Korean: 박근혜; Hanja: 朴槿惠; RR: Bak Geun(-)hye; IPA: [pak‿k͈ɯn.hje]), born on 2 February 1952, is a pivotal figure in modern South Korean political history. She rose to prominence as a conservative politician, eventually becoming the 11th President of the Republic of Korea. Her presidency, spanning from 2013 to 2017, was marked by groundbreaking achievements and an unprecedented, dramatic downfall due to impeachment and conviction on corruption charges.

Breaking Barriers: A Historic Presidency

Park Geun-hye's election to the presidency on 25 February 2013 was a landmark moment for South Korea and East Asia. She achieved several historic firsts:

• She was the first woman to be popularly elected as president of South Korea.
• Her election also marked her as the first female head of state to be popularly elected in East Asia, signifying a significant shift in the region's political landscape.
• Additionally, Park was the first South Korean president to have been born after the formal founding of the Republic of Korea in 1948, representing a new generation of leadership following the nation's post-war establishment.

Her tenure as president, however, was ultimately cut short by a major political scandal. She served until 2017 when she was formally removed from office following impeachment.

A Legacy of Political Lineage: Daughter of Park Chung-hee

Park Geun-hye's political journey was deeply intertwined with her family's history, particularly that of her father, Park Chung-hee. He was a highly influential and controversial figure in South Korean history, serving as president from 1963 to 1979. Park Chung-hee initially seized power through a military coup in 1961 and subsequently led South Korea through a period of rapid economic growth, often referred to as the "Miracle on the Han River." However, his rule was also characterized by authoritarianism and suppression of dissent. This complex legacy profoundly shaped Park Geun-hye's own political identity and public perception, making her presidency a focal point for discussions on democracy, economic development, and historical memory in South Korea.

Path to the Presidency: Early Political Career and Influence

Before ascending to the nation's highest office, Park Geun-hye established a robust political career within South Korea's conservative spectrum:

• Party Leadership: She served as the leader of the conservative Grand National Party (GNP) from 2004 to 2006. The GNP was later rebranded as the Saenuri Party in 2012, and Park played a pivotal role as its interim leader and successful presidential candidate in the lead-up to the 2012 election.
• National Assembly Member: Park was a long-serving member of the National Assembly, South Korea's unicameral legislative body. She represented various constituencies, serving four consecutive parliamentary terms between 1998 and 2012. In June 2012, she began her fifth term as a representative, having been elected via the national list system, which is a form of proportional representation.
• Global Recognition: Her growing influence was recognized internationally. In both 2013 and 2014, Forbes magazine ranked Park 11th on its list of the world's 100 most powerful women, designating her the most powerful woman in East Asia. In 2014, she also appeared on Forbes's list of the world's most powerful people, ranking 46th globally. She was the third-highest South Korean on this prestigious list, following prominent business magnates Lee Kun-hee (the late chairman of Samsung Group) and Lee Jae-yong (the de facto head of Samsung Group), underscoring the interplay of political and economic power in South Korea.

Impeachment, Conviction, and Presidential Pardon

Park Geun-hye's presidency came to an abrupt end amidst a sprawling corruption scandal that rocked the nation, leading to her impeachment and subsequent legal battles.

The Impeachment Process

On 9 December 2016, the National Assembly of South Korea voted overwhelmingly to impeach Park Geun-hye. The charges against her primarily centered on allegations of influence peddling, coercion, and abuse of power involving her long-time confidante and top aide, Choi Soon-sil. This scandal, widely known as "Choi-gate" or the "Choi Soon-sil scandal," triggered massive public protests across the country, dubbed the "Candlelight Revolution." Following the impeachment vote, then-Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn assumed her powers and duties as Acting President, as stipulated by the South Korean constitution during such proceedings.

The impeachment was definitively upheld by the Constitutional Court of Korea on 10 March 2017. In a unanimous 8–0 ruling, the court affirmed the National Assembly's decision, thereby formally removing Park from office. This historic decision made Park Geun-hye the first democratically elected president in South Korea's history to be removed from office through impeachment.

Legal Convictions and Sentencing

After her removal, Park Geun-hye faced a series of criminal trials. On 6 April 2018, South Korean courts sentenced her to 24 years in prison for charges related to corruption and abuse of power. This sentence was later increased to 25 years upon appeal.

In 2018, additional separate criminal cases led to an increase of seven years in Park's total prison sentence:

• She was found guilty of illegally taking off-the-book funds from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), South Korea's principal intelligence agency, for which she received a five-year prison sentence. These funds were often considered slush money intended for sensitive operations but were allegedly diverted for personal use or undisclosed purposes.
• She was also convicted of illegally interfering in the Saenuri Party primaries during the 2016 South Korean legislative election. This charge highlighted her attempts to influence the internal democratic processes of her own party, leading to an additional two-year prison sentence.

Presidential Pardon and Release

After serving nearly five years of her sentence, a significant development occurred on 24 December 2021. It was announced that Park Geun-hye would receive a special presidential pardon from then-President Moon Jae-in. The stated reason for the pardon was "compassionate grounds," which typically refers to concerns over health or promoting national unity. She was subsequently released from prison on 31 December 2021, concluding a tumultuous chapter in her life and South Korean politics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is Park Geun-hye?

Park Geun-hye is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th President of South Korea from 2013 to 2017, making her the first woman to hold the nation's highest office.

Why was Park Geun-hye impeached?

Park Geun-hye was impeached by the National Assembly on charges related to influence peddling, corruption, and abuse of power, primarily stemming from a scandal involving her confidante, Choi Soon-sil. The impeachment was upheld by the Constitutional Court in March 2017.

Was Park Geun-hye the first female president in East Asia?

Yes, Park Geun-hye was the first female president popularly elected as head of state in East Asia, in addition to being South Korea's first female president.

When was Park Geun-hye released from prison?

Park Geun-hye was released from prison on 31 December 2021, after receiving a special presidential pardon on compassionate grounds from then-President Moon Jae-in.