View source for Park Geun-hye

{{Short description|President of South Korea from 2013 to 2017}}
{{Family name hatnote|Park||lang=Korean}}
{{Pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = [[Excellency|Her Excellency]]
| name                = Park Geun-hye
| native_name         = {{nobold|박근혜}}
| native_name_lang    = ko
| image               = Park Geun-hye presidential portrait.png
| caption             = Official portrait, 2013
| order               = 11th
| office              = President of South Korea
| primeminister       = {{ubl|[[Chung Hong-won]]|[[Lee Wan-koo]]|[[Choi Kyoung-hwan]] (acting)|Hwang Kyo-ahn}}
| term_start          = 25 February 2013
| term_end            = 10 March 2017{{efn|name=note|Her powers and duties were suspended from 9 December 2016, by the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]] until the final impeachment verdict on 10 March 2017.}}
| predecessor         = [[Lee Myung-bak]]
| successor           = [[Hwang Kyo-ahn]] (acting)<br>[[Moon Jae-in]]
| office1             = Acting [[First Lady of South Korea]]
| president1          = [[Park Chung Hee]]
| term_label1         = In role
| term_start1         = 15 August 1974
| term_end1           = 26 October 1979
| predecessor1        = [[Yuk Young-soo]]
| successor1          = [[Hong Gi]]
| office2             = Leader of the [[Grand National Party]]
| term_start2         = 23 March 2004
| term_end2           = 15 June 2006
| predecessor2        = [[Choi Byung-ryeol]]
| successor2          = Kim Yeong-seon (acting)
| office3             = Leader of the [[Saenuri Party]]
| term_start3         = 19 December 2011
| term_end3           = 15 May 2012
| predecessor3        = [[Hwang Woo-yea]] (acting)
| successor3          = Hwang Woo-yea
| office4             = Member of the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]]
| term_start4         = 3 April 1998
| term_end4           = 29 May 2012
| constituency4       = [[Dalseong (constituency)|Dalseong]] ([[Daegu]])
| predecessor4        = Kim Suk-won
| successor4          = Lee Jong-jin
| term_start5         = 30 May 2012
| term_end5           = 10 December 2012
| constituency5       = {{nowrap|[[List of members of the National Assembly (South Korea), 2012–2016|Proportional representation]]}}
| residence           = [[Seoul]], South Korea
| party               = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (since 2017)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/politics/2017/11/03/0502000000AKR20171103139800001.HTML?template=2085 |script-title=ko:한국당, '1호 당원' 박근혜 출당조치…'20년 관계' 청산, Hangook-party, excludes '#1 partisan' Park Geun-hye... settlement of '20 years of relationship' | newspaper=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |date=3 November 2017 |access-date=3 November 2017}}</ref>
| otherparty          = {{ublist
 | [[Liberty Korea Party|Saenuri/Grand National Party]]{{efn|until 2002; from 2002 until 2017}}
 | Korean Coalition for the Future{{efn|May–November 2002}}
}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1952|02|02|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Daegu]], South Korea
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| mother              = [[Yuk Young-soo]]
| father              = [[Park Chung Hee]]
| alma_mater          = [[Sogang University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| signature           = Park Geun-hye signature.svg
| module              = {{Infobox Korean name/auto
|child            = yes
|hangul           = %박근혜
|hanja            = 朴槿惠
}}
| module2             = {{Listen voice
| filename = Park Geun-hye addresses to the U.S Congress of her plans on making peace with the Korean Peninsula.ogg
| description = Park Geun-hye on her plans on creating more trust and peace in the [[Korean Peninsula]]
| recorded = 8 May 2013
}}
}}

'''Park Geun-hye'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɑr|k|_|ˌ|g|ʊ|n|_|ˈ|h|eɪ}}; {{Korean|박근혜}} {{IPA|ko|pak‿k͈ɯn.hje||Ko-박근혜.wav}}}} (born 2 February 1952) is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th [[president of South Korea]] from 2013 until [[Impeachment of Park Geun-hye|she was removed from office]] in 2017. Park was the first and to date only woman to be elected president of South Korea,<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-dec-19-la-fg-south-korea-park-20121220-story.html |title=South Korea elects first female president |last1=Demick |first1=Barbara |date=19 December 2012 |last2=Choi |first2=Jung-yoon|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035 |access-date=18 November 2016}}</ref> and also the first woman to be [[List of elected and appointed female heads of state and government|popularly elected as a head of state]] in East Asia. She is also the first South Korean president to be born after the founding of South Korea. Her father, [[Park Chung Hee]], was president from 1963 to 1979, serving five consecutive terms after he [[May 16 coup|seized power in 1961]] and whom she served as [[First Lady of South Korea|first lady]] under from 1974 until his [[Assassination of Park Chung Hee|assassination]] in 1979.<ref name="auto1"/>

Before her presidency, Park was leader of the conservative Grand National Party (GNP) from 2004 to 2006 and leader of the [[Liberty Korea Party]] from 2011 to 2012. She was also a member of the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]], serving four consecutive parliamentary terms between 1998 and 2012. Park started her fifth term as a representative elected via [[Party-list proportional representation|national list]] in June 2012. In 2013 and 2014, Park ranked 11th on the [[Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|''Forbes'' list of the world's 100 most powerful women]] and the most powerful woman in East Asia.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmh45lfdj/geun-hye-park/ |title=The 25 Most Powerful Women in the World |access-date=16 June 2014 |work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> In 2014, she ranked 46th on the [[Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People|''Forbes'' list of the world's most powerful people]], the third-highest South Korean on the list, after [[Lee Kun-hee]] and [[Lee Jae-yong]].

On 9 December 2016, [[Impeachment of Park Geun-hye|Park was impeached]] by the National Assembly on charges related to [[influence peddling]] by her top aide, [[Choi Soon-sil]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/09/world/asia/south-korea-president-park-geun-hye-impeached.html |title=South Korea Parliament Votes to Impeach President Park Geun-hye|date=9 December 2016| work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Choe Sang-hun |access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> Then–Prime Minister [[Hwang Kyo-ahn]] assumed her powers and duties as acting president as a result.<ref name="Yonhap">{{Cite web |url= http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2015/05/21/0301000000AEN20150521002600315.html |title=Park names Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn as new PM |date=21 May 2015 |publisher=[[Yonhap]] |access-date=21 May 2015}}</ref> The [[Constitutional Court of Korea|Constitutional Court]] upheld the impeachment by a unanimous 8–0 ruling on 10 March 2017, thereby removing Park from office, making her the first Korean president to be so removed.<ref name="impeach0310nyt">{{cite news|last1=Choe|first1=Sang-hun|title=South Korea Removes President Park Geun-hye|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/world/asia/park-geun-hye-impeached-south-korea.html|access-date=10 March 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=9 March 2017}}</ref> On 6 April 2018, South Korean courts sentenced her to 24 years in prison (later increased to 25 years) for corruption and [[abuse of power]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43666134|title=Park Geun-hye: South Korea's ex-leader jailed for 24 years for corruption|work=[[BBC News]]|date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="25yearssentence">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-politics-park/south-korean-court-raises-ex-president-parks-jail-term-to-25-years-idUSKCN1L905P|title= South Korean court raises ex-president Park's jail term to 25 years|work=Reuters|date=24 August 2018}}</ref>

In 2018, two separate criminal cases resulted in an increase of seven years in Park's prison sentence. She was found guilty of illegally taking off-the-books funds from the [[National Intelligence Service (South Korea)|National Intelligence Service]] (NIS) and given a five-year prison sentence, and also found guilty of illegally interfering in the Saenuri Party primaries in the [[2016 South Korean legislative election]], for which she was sentenced to two more years in prison.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20190725010700315 |title=Appellate court reduces former President Park's sentence in spy agency fund case |website=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |date= 25 July 2019|access-date=26 September 2019 |last1=Yoo |first1=Cheong-Mo }}</ref> On 24 December 2021, it was announced that she would receive a [[pardon]] on [[Compassionate release|compassionate grounds]] from South Korean President [[Moon Jae-in]]. She was released from prison on 31 December<ref name="auto2">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/world/asia/south-korea-park-geun-hye-pardon.html|title=South Korea to Pardon Ex-President Park Geun-hye, Imprisoned for Corruption|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Choe Sang-Hun|date=23 December 2021}}</ref> and returned home three months later on 24 March 2022.<ref name="Shin">{{Cite news |last=Shin |first=Hyonhee |date=24 March 2022 |title=South Korea's disgraced ex-president Park returns home after prison |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-disgraced-ex-president-park-leaves-hospital-after-prison-release-2022-03-24/ |access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref>
{{TOC limit}}

== Early life and education ==
{{Park Geun-hye series}}
Park Geun-hye was born on 2 February 1952, in Samdeok-dong of [[Jung District, Daegu]], South Korea as the first child of [[Park Chung Hee]], who came to power with the [[May 16 military coup d'état]] of 1961 and was the third [[president of South Korea]] from 1963 to 1979; and his wife, [[First Lady of South Korea|First Lady]] [[Yuk Young-soo]]. Both of her parents were assassinated. She has a younger brother, {{ill|Park Ji-man|ko|박지만}}, and a younger sister, {{ill|Park Geun Ryeong|ko|박근령}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Candidacy of ruling party leader's sister gets cold shoulder |date=18 March 2012 |newspaper=[[The Korea Herald]] |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20120318000328}}</ref> She also has an older half-sister, <span data-darkreader-inline-color="" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="">[[Park Jae-ok]].<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |last1=이 |first1=우림 |last2=고 |first2=석현 |date=2020-07-09 |script-title=ko:박정희의 숨겨진 장녀 "아버지는 늘 미안하다고 했다" |url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/23820600 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=[[JoongAng Ilbo]] |language=ko}}</ref></span> She is unmarried with no children. [[Pew Research Center]] described her as an [[atheism|atheist]] with a Buddhist and Roman Catholic upbringing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/08/12/6-facts-about-christianity-in-south-korea/|title=6 facts about South Korea's growing Christian population|date=12 August 2014}}</ref>

In 1953, Park's family moved to [[Seoul]], where she graduated from Jangchung Elementary School and Sungshim (literal: Sacred Heart) Girls' Middle and High School in 1970, going on to receive a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[electronic engineering]] from [[Sogang University]] in 1974.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/people/park-geun-hye/|title=Park Geun-hye|access-date=11 August 2024|website=[[World Economic Forum]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=(profile)Hannara Party Vice Chairwoman, Park Geun-hye |date=31 May 2000 |publisher=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0000006171}}</ref> She briefly studied at [[Joseph Fourier University]] in France, but left following the murder of her mother.<ref>{{cite news |last=Harlan |first=Chico |date=25 January 2013 |title=South Korea's new leader, Park Geun-hye, was pushed onto political stage by tragedy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/for-s-koreas-park-after-tragedy-a-first-taste-of-power/2013/01/25/0dc9382e-5e30-11e2-90a0-73c8343c6d61_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref>

Park's mother was killed on 15 August 1974, in the [[National Theater of Korea]]; [[Mun Se-gwang]], a [[Koreans in Japan|Japanese-born ethnic Korean]] sympathizer of North Korea and member of the [[Chongryon]], was attempting to assassinate her husband, President Park Chung Hee.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=180730|script-title=ko:8·15대통령저격사건 (八一五大統領狙擊事件) |trans-title=15 August President assassination-attempt incident|publisher=[[Doopedia]] (두산백과)|access-date=13 May 2012|language=ko}}</ref> Park Geun-hye was regarded as First Lady until the [[assassination of Park Chung Hee|assassination of her father]] by his intelligence chief, [[Kim Jae-gyu]], on 26 October 1979.<ref>{{cite news|title=Profile: South Korean President Park Geun-hye|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-20787271|access-date=3 January 2018|work=[[BBC News]]|date=10 March 2017|quote=Some said the association with her father – and her experience as first lady – helped cement her win by overcoming prejudices among male voters.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://belfercenter.hks.harvard.edu/files/kogan-apsa-aug-2013.pdf|title=Weiner, Tim: ''Legacy of Ashes. The History of CIA''. New York, June 2007.|access-date=12 February 2014|archive-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020125823/http://belfercenter.hks.harvard.edu/files/kogan-apsa-aug-2013.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Weiner, Tim: ''Legacy of Ashes. The History of CIA''. New York, June 2007.|isbn = 978-0307389008|last1 = Weiner|first1 = Tim|year = 2008| publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing }}</ref> During this time, activists who were political opponents of Park's father claimed to be subject to arbitrary detention. Further, [[human rights in South Korea|human rights]] were considered subordinate to [[economy of South Korea|economic development]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=C. I. Eugene Kim|title=Emergency, Development, and Human Rights: South Korea| journal=Asian Survey| date=April 1978 |volume= 18|issue= 4|pages=363–78|doi=10.2307/2643400|jstor=2643400}}</ref> In 2007, Park expressed regret at the treatment of activists during this period.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsview_sub.php?menu=2&key=2007071913|title=Park Calls 1961 Coup 'Revolution' to Save Nation|date=19 July 2009|access-date=13 May 2012|work=[[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]] news|quote=She apologized for the sufferings and sacrifices of pro-democracy activists under the constitutional system, which was effective between 1972 and 1979.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225182651/http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsview_sub.php?menu=2&key=2007071913|archive-date=25 December 2007}}</ref>

Park received honorary doctoral degrees from the [[Chinese Culture University]] in [[Taiwan]] in 1987, [[Pukyong National University]] and [[KAIST]] in 2008, Sogang University in 2010, and [[TU Dresden]] in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tu-dresden.de/tu-dresden/newsportal/news/ep_park?set_language=en|title=TU Dresden awards President of the Republic of Korea, Park Geun-hye, honorary doctorate|date=31 March 2014|access-date=15 June 2016}}</ref><!-- This belongs in honors or recognitions. -->

== Political career ==
=== Early career ===
Park was elected a [[Liberty Korea Party|Grand National Party]] (GNP; later the Liberty Korea Party, or Saenuri Party) assemblywoman for [[Dalseong County]] (Daegu) in the 1998 [[by-election]], and three more times in the same electoral district between 1998 and 2008, being the incumbent assemblywoman until April 2012. In 2012, Park announced she would not run for a constituency representative seat for the 19th election in Dalseong, but for a proportional representative position for the Saenuri Party instead, in order to lead the party's election campaign.<ref name="New Pres Dec 19 2012" /> She was subsequently elected as a proportional representative in the [[2012 South Korean legislative election|April 2012 election]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Chung Min-uck |date=20 March 2013 |title=Saenuri names proportional representatives |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/03/116_107308.html |work=[[The Korea Times]] |access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="NYT-Fackler">{{cite news |last=Fackler |first=Martin |date=20 April 2012 |title=In a Rowdy Democracy, a Dictator's Daughter With an Unsoiled Aura |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/21/world/asia/park-geun-hye-an-unsoiled-leader-in-south-koreas-rowdy-democracy.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref>

Due to the failed attempt to [[impeachment|impeach]] President [[Roh Moo-hyun]] and the bribery scandal of its 2002 presidential candidate, [[Lee Hoi-chang]] (revealed in 2004), the GNP was facing a defeat in the [[2004 South Korean legislative election|2004 general election]]. Park was appointed chairwoman of the party and led the election efforts. In the election, the GNP lost its majority position but managed to win 121 seats, which was largely considered a great achievement under such inhospitable circumstances for the party.<ref>{{cite web|date=10 April 2012|script-title=ko:총선 D-1 승패기준..영남승부 관심 {{!}} General election D-1 outcome standard... attention on fight in Yeong-nam area|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0005579513|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=박 |first=의래|date=8 April 2012|script-title=ko:[증시閑담] 총선 결과에 촉각 세우는 주식시장 {{!}} [Stock market leisurely(閑) Stock market waiting for result of general election|url=http://biz.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/04/08/2012040800451.html|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref> As the chairwoman of the GNP, Park helped her party make significant gains in local elections and actually obtain a majority in 2006.

During the campaign, on 20 May 2006, Ji Chung-ho, a 50-year-old man with eight criminal convictions, slashed Park's face with a utility knife, causing an 11-centimeter wound that required 60 stitches and several hours of surgery.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2006/05/22/2006052261007.html |title=Joint Probe into Attack on GNP Chairwoman |work=[[Arirang TV]] |date=22 May 2006 |access-date=16 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=038&aid=0000330425 |script-title=ko:박근혜대표 유세장서 피습 중상 |trans-title=GNP leader Park Geun-hye attacked during campaign |date=21 May 2006 |access-date=16 May 2012 |work=[[Hankook Ilbo]] |author1=Gim Yi-sak (김이삭) |author2=Chung Min-seung (정민승) |language=ko}}</ref> A famous anecdote from this incident occurred when Park was hospitalized after the attack: the first word that she said to her secretary after her recovery from her wound was, "How is [[Daejeon]]?" After this, the GNP candidate in the Daejeon mayoral race won the election despite having trailed by more than 20 percentage points in opinion polls up to the point of the attack. In addition, during Park's term as the GNP chairwoman between 2004 and 2006, the party won all 40 reelections and by-elections held, which was largely credited to her influence and efforts. This feat gave Park the nickname "Queen of Elections".<ref name="2006 Maeil Kyongge article">{{cite web|last=홍 |first=종성|date=25 May 2006|script-title=ko:대전 "박근혜 생각하면 결심이 흔들려요" {{!}} Dae-jeon "Thinking of Park Geun-hye shakes my determination."|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=009&aid=0000506402}}</ref><ref name="2011 Yeonhap News article">{{cite news |url= http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0005298622 |script-title=ko:박근혜, 野시절 `40대 0 신화'.이번엔?|trans-title=Park Geun-hye scored 40 to 0 as the opposition. How about this time? |date=4 October 2011 |access-date=16 May 2012 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |author=Kim Nam-kwon (김남권) |language=ko}}</ref><ref name="2012 Newsis article">{{cite news |url= http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=003&aid=0004415188 |script-title=ko:'선거의 여왕' 박근혜, 총선에서 뒷심 발휘할까? |trans-title='Queen of elections' Park Geun-hye, Could she wield her magic again in April? |date=29 March 2012 |access-date=16 May 2012 | language=ko |work=[[Newsis]] |author=Kim Min-ja (김민자)}}</ref>

On 12 February 2007, Park made a much-publicized visit to [[Harvard University]] in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]], United States. Her visit culminated in an address to a packed audience at the [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]], where she said she wanted to save Korea and advocated a stronger relationship between [[South Korea–United States relations|South Korea and the United States]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=516993 |title=Politician Wants To 'Save' Korea: South Korean National Assembly member advocates alliance with United States |date= 13 February 2007 |access-date=16 May 2012 |work=The Harvard Crimson}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icasinc.org/2007/2007l/2007lghp.html |title=The Republic of Korea and the United States: Our Future Together |date=21 February 2007 |access-date=16 May 2012 |work=Institute for Corean-American Studies, Inc.|quote=An Address Delivered at the ARCO (John F. Kennedy Jr.) Forum, John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University}}</ref>

Park hoped to emulate her father's success by becoming the presidential nominee of the GNP.<ref name="NYT-Fackler"/> She eventually lost to [[Lee Myung-bak]] by a narrow margin. Lee had a commanding lead at the beginning of the primary season, but Park was able to narrow the gap through allegations of Lee's corruption. Park won the "party members' bid", but she lost the "national bid", which is a larger percentage of the total presidential bid.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Korean presidential Election campaign - European Union |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/dv/200/200706/20070620_006en.pdf}}</ref> After the [[2007 South Korean presidential election|2007 presidential election]], President Lee Myung-bak formed a government of mostly close supporters.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestyuopics/people/l/lee_myung_bak/index.html | title= Lee Myung-bak | work=[[The New York Times]]| date= 25 July 2012 | access-date=13 November 2012}}</ref> Park's supporters argued that this was a kind of political reprisal and that they should secede from the GNP.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://spearheadresearch.org/SR_CMS/index.php/internationalaffairssecuirty/south-korea-park-likely-to-be-first-female-president | archive-url= https://archive.today/20130416011926/http://spearheadresearch.org/SR_CMS/index.php/internationalaffairssecuirty/south-korea-park-likely-to-be-first-female-president | url-status= dead | archive-date= 16 April 2013 | title= South Korea: Park Likely to be First Female President | work= Spearhead Research | date= 28 August 2012 | access-date= 13 November 2012 }}</ref> Eventually, they formed parties named [[Pro-Park Coalition]] and Solidarity for Pro-Park Independents (친박 무소속 연대; ''Chin Park Musosok Yeondae'').  After the mass secession, the rebels announced that they would rejoin the GNP after the general election, but the party prohibited it. In the following [[2008 South Korean legislative election|2008 general election]], the rebels won 26 seats: fourteen from the Pro-Park Coalition and twelve as [[Political independent|independents]]. Together, they played a pivotal role in the GNP's narrow majority. Park continually insisted that the GNP should allow the return of her supporters. As of 2011, most of these rebels had returned to the GNP, resulting in approximately 50 to 60 assembly members who supported Park out of 171 in the GNP.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}}

In 2011, as a response to the dwindling approval rating of the GNP, the party formed an emergency committee and changed its name to the ''Saenuri'' Party, or "New Frontier" Party.<ref name="New Pres Dec 19 2012" /> On 19 December, Park was appointed as the chairwoman of the emergency committee, the ''[[de facto]]'' leader of the party.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} In the [[2012 South Korean legislative election|2012 general election]], the Saenuri Party achieved a surprise win against the opposing [[Democratic United Party]], winning 152 seats and retaining its majority position. Because of the corruption scandals of the Lee administration revealed before the election, the party was widely expected to win no more than 100 seats.<ref name="2012 Hankyoreh article">{{cite news| url= http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/politics_general/527972.html |script-title=ko:'선거의 여왕' 화려한 귀환...수도권·젊은층에선 한계 |trans-title=Return of Queen of election. Park also showed her limit among capital area voters and the youth |date=12 April 2012 |access-date=16 May 2012 |work=[[The Hankyoreh]] |language=ko |author=Sung Yeon-chul (성연철)}}</ref> During the 13-day campaign period, Park traveled about {{cvt| 7200|km|mi }} around South Korea, visiting more than 100 constituencies.<ref name="2012 Joongang Ilbo article">{{cite news|url=http://article.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=7895558&ctg=1000 |script-title=ko:'청바지 유세' 고개 흔들던 박근혜, 30분 뒤 |trans-title=Park Geun-hye shook head for wearing jeans, but after 30 minutes changed her mind |date=14 April 2012 |access-date=16 May 2012 |language=ko |work=[[JoongAng Ilbo]] |author1=Kim Jeong-ha (김정하) |author2=Hur Jin (허진) |author3=Sohn Guk-hee (손국희) |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523105824/http://article.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=7895558&ctg=1000 |archive-date=23 May 2013 }}</ref> It is the consensus of Korean news media and political experts that the most important factor leading to Saenuri Party's victory was Park's leadership. For this reason, the 2012 election was often dubbed the "return of the Queen of Election".<ref name="2012 Hankyoreh article" /><ref name="2012 edaily article">{{cite news|url=http://www.edaily.co.kr/news/NewsRead.edy?SCD=DA32&newsid=01787606596478848&DCD=A01503&OutLnkChk=Y|script-title=ko:'여왕의 화려한 귀환' 박근혜가 돌아왔다|trans-title=Return of Queen of election, Park Geun-hye returned as GNP leader|date=15 December 2011|access-date=16 May 2012|language=ko|author=Kim Sung-gon (김성곤)|work=[[Edaily]]}}</ref> The party's defeat in the populous Seoul metropolitan area in this election, however, revealed the limitation of Park's political influence.<ref name="2012 Hankyoreh article" />

=== 2012 presidential campaign ===
{{Main|2012 South Korean presidential election}}
Park had been the leading candidate for the [[2012 South Korean presidential election|2012 presidential election]] in every national poll in South Korea between 2008, when the Lee administration began, and September 2011, with an approval rating of 25% to 45%, more than twice that of the second candidate. Park's approval rating was highest during the [[2008 South Korean legislative election|2008 general election]], and lowest in early 2010 as a result of her political stance against the Lee administration in [[Sejong City]] issue.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0005258502| script-title=ko:박근혜 대세론 `휘청'..스타일 변화 모색|trans-title=Park Geun-hye's top candidate position is challenged. needs to change her style|date=8 September 2011|access-date=16 May 2012|work=[[Yonhap News Agency]]|author=Kim Hwa-young (김화영)|language=ko|quote=Faced with rising [[Ahn Cheol-soo]]'s approval rate, Park Geun-hye's leadership is in question. Sending messages wouldn't be enough, and she must increase her appearance in public. Park will try to tackle the center. [安風에 대세론 제동 걸려..정치적 시험대 올라. `메시지 정치'서 `현장정치'로..중도층 공략 본격화 예상]}}</ref> Park also benefited from a public image of standing aloofly above the fray of politics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/21/world/asia/park-geun-hye-an-unsoiled-leader-in-south-koreas-rowdy-democracy.html|title=In a Rowdy Democracy, a Dictator's Daughter With an Unsoiled Aura|last=Fackler|first=Martin|date=20 April 2012|website=[[The New York Times]]|language=en|access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref>

In September 2011, [[Ahn Cheol-soo]], a former venture IT&nbsp;businessman and the Dean of Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at [[Seoul National University]], emerged as a strong independent presidential candidate. In September 2011 national presidential polls, Ahn and Park closely competed for the status of frontrunner, with Park losing the top seat in some polls for the first time since 2008.<ref name="news.naver.com">{{cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0005260480|script-title=ko:박근혜-안철수, 여론조사 `엎치락뒤치락'|trans-title=Poll: Park Geun-hye and An Cheol-soo are in fierce competition|date=10 September 2011|access-date=16 May 2012|language=ko|work=[[Yonhap News Agency]]|author=Kim Nam-kwon (김남권)|quote=All eyes on public opinion after [[Chuseok]] holiday. [추석 연휴 직후 `민심 향배'에 이목 집중]}}</ref>

On 10 July 2012, Park formally announced her presidential bid at Time Square, [[Yeongdeungpo District]], Seoul. In this event, she emphasized the right to pursue happiness, a democratic economy,<ref>{{Cite news |title=S.Korea's Park softens stand in presidential bid - reuters |website=[[Reuters]] |date=10 July 2012 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/korea-politics-park-geun-hye-idINDEE86902420120710}}</ref> and customized welfare services for the Korean people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.donga.com/3/all/20120710/47651073/1|script-title=ko:박근혜 대선 출마선언…대선레이스 본격 점화|publisher=[[The Dong-A Ilbo]]|date=10 July 2012}}</ref> In a national survey by Mono Research on 30 August<ref>[http://www.kmobile.co.kr/k_mnews/news/news_view.asp?tableid=IT&idx=405228 박근혜 컨벤션 효과...안철수 지지율도 동반상승 | Park Geun-hye convention effect... Ahn Cheol-soo's approval rating rises also] in 2012, {{in lang|ko}}</ref> Park was the top presidential candidate with an approval rating of 45.5% when competing with all potential candidates, and according to another recent national survey result had a higher approval rating (50.6%) than Ahn (43.9%) in a two-way competition as of 11 September .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://joongang.joinsmsn.com/article/936/9313936.html?ctg=1000&joongang|title=home survey 2012 survey by Realmeter|publisher=joongang.joinsmsn.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126211012/http://joongang.joinsmsn.com/article/936/9313936.html?ctg=1000&joongang|archive-date=26 January 2013}}</ref> The opposing [[Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015)|Democratic Party of Korea]] elected [[Moon Jae-in]] as its presidential candidate on 17 September, while Ahn announced his presidential bid on 19 September . Although still a leading candidate, Park had a lower approval rating than both Ahn and Moon when engaged in two-way competition, according to a 22 September  national survey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://joongang.joinsmsn.com/article/367/9398367.html?ctg=1000&joongang|title=home survey 2012 survey by Realmeter|publisher=joongang.joinsmsn.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126235525/http://joongang.joinsmsn.com/article/367/9398367.html?ctg=1000&joongang|archive-date=26 January 2013}}</ref> Park was elected as president of the Republic of Korea on 19 December 2012, with the approval of 51.6% of Korean voters.<ref>{{cite news |last=Harlan |first=Chico |date=19 December 2012 |title=Park Geun-hye wins South Korea's presidential election |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/park-geun-hye-leads-in-south-koreas-presidential-election/2012/12/19/783398d4-49e6-11e2-b6f0-e851e741d196_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref>

In 2017, the [[National Intelligence Service (South Korea)|National Intelligence Service]] (NIS) admitted that it had conducted an illicit campaign [[2012 NIS public opinion manipulation scandal|to influence the 2012 presidential election]], mobilizing teams of experts in [[psychological warfare]] to ensure that Park defeated Moon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/04/south-koreas-spy-agency-admits-trying-rig-election-national-intelligence-service-2012|title=South Korea spy agency admits trying to rig 2012 presidential election|first=Justin|last=McCurry|date=4 August 2017|website=the Guardian}}</ref>

=== Positions ===
[[File:KOCIS CheongWaDae Children Day 02 (8713947728).jpg|thumb|Park (center) smiles and shows a portrait drawn by a girl in Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul, at [[Children's Day]] 5 May 2013]]
In a 2012 survey by Korean Research assessing the political stance of twelve potential presidential candidates of South Korea, Park was considered the most conservative candidate.<ref name="New Pres Dec 19 2012" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/politics/201206/h2012060802354721000.htm |script-title=ko:한국아이닷컴! |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608101501/http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/politics/201206/h2012060802354721000.htm |archive-date= 8 June 2012 }}</ref> Her conservative, market-oriented political stance was well reflected in her campaign pledge for 2008 presidential bid to cut taxes, reduce regulation, and establish strong law and order.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://news.mk.co.kr/newsRead.php?year=2012&no=230947|script-title=ko:2007년, 줄푸세·시장주의 → 2012년, 맞춤형 복지·경제민주화|date=15 April 2012}}</ref> Since 2009, however, Park started to focus more on welfare issues, advocating customized welfare services to the Korean people.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

Park was well known for her strict adherence to political promises. In 2010, for example, she successfully stopped the Lee administration's attempt to cancel the plan to establish [[Sejong City]], a new national center of administration, arguing that the plan was a promise made to the people. This conflict between Park and the Lee administration cost her a considerable decrease in her approval rating at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nanumnews.com/sub_read.html?uid=17379&section=sc201|script-title=ko:[나눔뉴스] "세종시 피로감에 박근혜 지지율 하락세"|publisher=nanumnews.com}}</ref> In 2012, Park also vowed to construct a new airport in the southeastern region, a 2008 presidential campaign promise made by GNP but cancelled in 2011, despite claims of economic infeasibility of the plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imaeil.com/sub_news/sub_news_view.php?news_id=9929&yy=2012|title=2012 Maeil Sinmoon article|work=[[Maeil Shinmun]] |date=10 February 2012 }}</ref>

The administrative vision of Park's new government was "a new era of hope and happiness". The five Administrative Goals of the government were "a jobs-centered creative economy", "tailored employment and welfare", "creativity-oriented education and cultural enrichment", "a safe and united society" and "strong security measures for sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula". The Park Geun-hye administration planned to create a trustworthy, clean, and capable government by carrying out these goals, related strategies, and tasks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.korea.net/Government/Current-Affairs/National-Affairs?affairId=346|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304090414/http://www.korea.net/Government/Current-Affairs/National-Affairs?affairId=346|url-status=dead|title=President Park Geun-hye, Korea's first female president|archive-date=4 March 2013|publisher=[[Korea.net]]}}</ref>

Park chose not to vote in the [[2017 South Korean presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170509000419 |newspaper=[[The Korea Herald]] |title=Did jailed ex-president Park Geun-hye use her vote? |date=9 May 2017 |access-date=13 May 2017 |first=Hyun-ju |last=Ock |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514025809/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170509000419 |archive-date=14 May 2017 |quote=According to local news reports, she gave up her right to vote as she did not ask for an absentee ballot, which is provided to inmates in detention facilities.}}</ref>

== Presidency (2013–17) ==
{{Infobox administration|image=Park Geun-hye (2013).jpg|name=Presidency of Park Geun-hye|term_start=25 February 2013|term_end=10 March 2017<br />([[Impeachment of Park Geun-hye|Removal]])|cabinet=''[[Cabinet of Park Geun-hye|Full list]]''|party=[[Liberty Korea Party|Saenuri]]|election=[[2012 South Korean presidential election|2012]]|seat=[[Seoul]]|predecessor=[[Lee Myung-bak#Presidency (2008–13)|Lee Myung-bak]]|successor=[[Moon Jae-in#Presidency (2017–2022)|Moon Jae-in]]<br/ >[[Hwang Kyo-ahn#Acting presidency (2016–2017)|Hwang Kyo-ahn]] (acting)|president_link=President of South Korea|premier_link=Prime Minister of South Korea|premier=[[Chung Hong-won]]<br />[[Lee Wan-koo]]<br />[[Choi Kyoung-hwan]] (acting)<br />[[Hwang Kyo-ahn]]|seal=Seal of the President of the Republic of Korea.svg|customdates=Powers suspended from December 9, 2016 – March 10, 2017}}

=== Inauguration ===
[[File:Korea_18th_Presidential_Inaugural_06.jpg|thumb|President Park on inauguration day, 25 February 2013]]
Park became the 11th president of South Korea on 25 February 2013. At midnight, she took over all presidential authorities including the prerogative of supreme command of South Korea's armed forces from her predecessor Lee Myung-bak. In her inauguration speech at the National Assembly building, Park spoke of her plan to open a new era of hope through "economic prosperity, people's happiness, and cultural enrichment". She particularly expressed her hope that North Korea would give up its nuclear arms and walk on the path of peace and mutual development, and declared that the foundation for a happy era of unification in which all Korean people will be able to enjoy prosperity and freedom and realize their dreams would be built through the Korean Peninsula Trust-building Process. In her inauguration speech, Park presented four guiding principles to realize her administrative vision: economic prosperity, people's happiness, cultural enrichment, and establishment of a foundation for peaceful unification.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news1.kr/articles/1024223|script-title=ko:'부흥, 융성, 소명…' 박 대통령 취임사 60년대 데쟈뷰|date=25 February 2013|website=[[News1 (South Korean company)|News1]]}}</ref> Park's inauguration ceremony was the largest one in South Korean history with 70,000 participants. Diplomatic representatives in Korea, as well as high-level delegates specially sent from 24 countries around the world including Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, U.S. National Security Advisor Thomas Donilon, Taiwanese Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, and former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, also participated in the event to congratulate Park.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130224000257 |title=Park's swearing-in draws record 70,000 participants |newspaper=[[The Korea Herald]] |access-date=16 October 2015|date=24 February 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign-affairs/2013/02/26/371364/Legislative-Speaker.htm |title=Legislative Speaker Wang attends S. Korea president's inauguration |newspaper=[[China Post]] |access-date=29 October 2016}}</ref>

=== First year (February 2013&nbsp;– February 2014) ===
The goal of the newly launched Park Geun-hye Administration for governing state affairs was to open "a new era of hope and happiness for all the people". Park avowed that South Korea would break away from its long-pursued development model that centered around the nation, and shift the focus of government administration from the state to individual citizens. The administration's keywords in managing state affairs were "people", "happiness", "trust", "co-prosperity" and "principle".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.president.go.kr/government/philosophy/philosophy.php |title=THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA CHEONG WA DAE |access-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208001650/http://english.president.go.kr/government/philosophy/philosophy.php |archive-date= 8 December 2013 }}</ref> Right after taking office, Park restructured the [[Blue House]] and government organization. The [[Office of National Security]] at the Blue House, [[Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning]], and [[Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]] were newly launched, and the seat of Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs was revived. The Chief of the National Security Office would act as a "control tower" for diplomatic, security, and national defense issues, and the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs for economic, social, and welfare issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.dongascience.com/PHP/NewsView.php?kisaid=20130116100000000656&classcode=0101|title=THE SCIENCE : [박근혜정부 조직개편안]미래部, 성장동력 창출… 부총리는 정책 총괄|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref>

[[File:KOCIS Korea President Park Sejong Econ 03 (11640577615).jpg|thumb|250px|Park delivering the keynote speech during an economic policy meeting on 27 December 2013 at the Sejong Government Complex.]]
Park announced her plan to build a "Creative Economy" on 5 June 2013, representing her vision for economic revival and job creation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msip.go.kr/UserBbs_bbsDetail.action?bbsId%3D72%26bbsNo%3D810%26bbsType%3Ddefault%26manuId%3D128%26insteadMenuId%3D0 |script-title=ko:미래창조과학부 |access-date=21 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819054534/http://www.msip.go.kr/UserBbs_bbsDetail.action?bbsId=72 |archive-date=19 August 2013 }}</ref> In April, Park said "Timing is very important for our economic policy, jobs and livelihood mainly ordinary people should organize a supplementary budget in a timely manner."<ref>{{cite web|url = http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=034&aid=0002478911|script-title=ko:박근혜 대통령, "일자리·서민 위주로 조속히 추경 편성"|date = 3 April 2013|access-date = 3 April 2013}}</ref> She encouraged the [[gig economy]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Nissen |first=A |author-link= |date=2023 |title=The European Union, Emerging Global Business and Human Rights |url=https://www.cambridge.org/nl/academic/subjects/law/european-law/european-union-emerging-global-business-and-human-rights?format=HB |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=254 |isbn=9781009284301}}</ref>  On 8 April 2014, Park signed the [[Australia–Korea Free Trade Agreement]] with Australia's Prime Minister [[Tony Abbott]].<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-08/australia-signs-south-korea-trade-deal/5375600 Australia signs free trade agreement with South Korea in Seoul]; ABC; 8 April 2014</ref>

Park proposed the eradication of "Four Major Social Evils" (사 대회악: "sa dae hwe ak")&nbsp;– sexual violence, domestic violence, school violence, and unsafe food. Statistics showed that sexual violence and domestic violence increased during these years.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Without referring to statistical data, aggravating school violence or food safety is a public concern in South Korea.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2972066|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130609085225/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2972066|url-status=usurped|archive-date=9 June 2013|title=The zeitgeist: Rooting out social vices|date=24 May 2013|newspaper=[[JoongAng Ilbo]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|script-title=ko:4대 사회악 근절 위한 추진본부 발족시킬 것|trans-title=Four Major Social Evils promotion headquarter will be established|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/bluehouse/578152.html|date=14 March 2013|newspaper=[[The Hankyoreh]]|language=ko}}</ref> She also launched the National Unity Committee on 17 June with the purpose to advise the president in the process of resolving various conflicts in South Korean society and establishing a culture of co-existence and co-prosperity. Former Democratic United Party Advisor Han Kwang -ok was named as the head.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.donga.com/BestClick/3/all/20130617/55918735/1|script-title=ko:국민대통합위 오늘 출범…초대 위원장에 한광옥|access-date=16 October 2015|date=17 June 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Park Geun-Hye meeting with Barack Obama.jpg|thumb|Park Geun-hye at a bilateral meeting with [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Barack Obama]] on 7 May 2013]]

====Foreign policy====
After taking office, Park met with [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[John Kerry]] and U.S. President [[Barack Obama]]. Park's trip to the United States in May 2013 was her first foreign trip after taking office.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Scott |last2=DeYoung |first2=Karen |date=7 May 2013 |title=Obama, South Korea's Park present united front against North Korea at joint appearance |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-south-koreas-park-present-united-front-against-north-korea-at-joint-appearance/2013/05/07/e06767f8-b743-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref> Like many of her predecessors, Park maintained a close relationship with the U.S., which has over [[United States Forces Korea|20,000 soldiers stationed in South Korea]]. During her visit to the U.S., she addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress, where she called for a united front against any North Korean provocations. Park also called for a strong global relationship between South Korea and the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sbs.co.kr/section_news/news_read.jsp?news_id=N1001774050|title=SBS 뉴스 :: 리다이렉트 페이지|access-date=16 October 2015|date=7 May 2013}}</ref>

Park visited the United States on her first overseas trip as president. She traveled to Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles on 5–9 May 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.president.go.kr/pre_activity/latest/latest_view.php?uno=7800 |title=THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA CHEONG WA DAE |access-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203194837/http://english.president.go.kr/pre_activity/latest/latest_view.php?uno=7800 |archive-date= 3 December 2013 }}</ref> During summit talks at the [[White House]], Presidents Park and Obama adopted a joint declaration for the [[United States-South Korea relations|American-South Korean alliance]] and discussed ways to further develop the bilateral relations in a future-forward manner. Also, the two leaders discussed ways to promote cooperation in building peace in the Northeast Asian region and strengthen the partnership between Seoul and Washington.<ref name="korea.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Policies/view?articleID=107794|title=Korea.net : The official website of the Republic of Korea|author=Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS)|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref> The two leaders of South Korea and the United States agreed to adopt a joint statement on comprehensive energy cooperation to build a foundation for a future growth engine, and establish a policy cooperation committee on information and communication technology. In addition, Park urged her U.S. counterpart to expand the annual U.S. visa quota for South Korean professionals in order to promote co-development of both economies.<ref name="korea.net" />

[[File:Korea China Press Conference 20130627 03.jpg|thumb|Park Geun-hye and Chinese President [[Xi Jinping]], Beijing, 27 June 2013]]
On 27–30 June 2013, Park visited China with a South Korean delegation, where she met with [[Xi Jinping]], the Chinese president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sbs.co.kr/section_news/news_read.jsp?news_id=N1001856266|title=SBS 뉴스 :: 리다이렉트 페이지|access-date=16 October 2015|date=28 June 2013}}</ref> On 13 November 2013, Park held an extended meeting with President Vladimir Putin, whose visit to South Korea was the first among leaders of four major powers including the United States, China, and Japan. During the meeting, Park and Putin considered combining Korea's Eurasian Initiative and Russia's Asia-Pacific Policy. After the summit, both presidents issued a joint communique and held a joint press conference.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/11/12/10/0301000000AEN20131112007053315F.html|title=(3rd LD) S. Korea to participate in Russian-led rail, port development project in N. Korea|access-date=16 October 2015|date=12 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.president.go.kr/news/newsList.php?srh%5Byear%5D=2013&srh%5Bmonth%5D=11&srh%5Bpage%5D=3&srh%5Bview_mode%5D=detail&srh%5Bseq%5D=325&srh%5Bdetail_no%5D=37 |script-title=ko:대한민국 청와대 |publisher=president.go.kr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192925/http://www1.president.go.kr/news/newsList.php?srh%5Byear%5D=2013&srh%5Bmonth%5D=11&srh%5Bpage%5D=3&srh%5Bview_mode%5D=detail&srh%5Bseq%5D=325&srh%5Bdetail_no%5D=37 |archive-date=2 January 2014 }}</ref> Earlier, Park attended the G-20 Summit in September 2013 at St. Petersburg, where she met Putin for a separate dialogue discussing economic cooperation and seeking support on North Korean issues. It marked the first Korea–Russia summit talk since Park's inauguration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2013/09/07/13/0200000000AEN20130907000100315F.html|title=Park seeks Russia's support in resolving North Korean nuclear standoff|access-date=16 October 2015|date=6 September 2013}}</ref> When Park met with Russian Minister for the Development of Russian Far East Viktor Ishaev, who headed the Russian delegation to Park's inaugural ceremony, she stated that Russia was one of Korea's key strategic partners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rg.ru/2013/02/26/reg-dfo/ishaev-anons.html|title=Виктор Ишаев пригласил корейцев к совместному освоению космоса|work=Российская газета|date=26 February 2013 |access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref>

===== North Korea =====
North Korea had engaged in provocations such as violating a UN Security Council resolution and firing a long-range missile on 12 December 2012, just before 19 December presidential election. After Park was elected, North Korea conducted its third nuclear test 12 February 2013, nullified the non-aggression agreements between the two countries on 8 March and withdrew North Korean workers from the [[Kaesong Industrial Region]] on 8 April.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15278612 | work=[[BBC News]] | title=North Korea profile | date=26 March 2014}}</ref> Park maintained her stance that South Korea will not succumb to the North's provocations and threats, and will endeavor to elicit policy coordination towards North Korea with major powers such as the United States, China and the UN.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/04/the-us-should-support-new-south-korean-presidents-approach-to-north-korea|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415225447/http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/04/the-us-should-support-new-south-korean-presidents-approach-to-north-korea|url-status=unfit|archive-date=15 April 2013|title=South Korean President Park Geun-hye's North Korean Strategy|work=The Heritage Foundation|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref> Her response to North Korean issues gained the support of many South Koreans and also the United States, China, and Russia, and played a significant role in the unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2094 regarding North Korea on 7 March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://csis.org/publication/un-security-council-passes-new-resolution-2094-north-korea|title=UN Security Council Passes New Resolution 2094 on North Korea|date=7 March 2013 |access-date=16 October 2015 |last1=Cha |first1=Victor |last2=Kim |first2=Ellen }}</ref> Due to Park's response and the international community's actions, on 6 June North Korea ceased provocations and threats towards the South and suggested holding discussions on reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2013/06/06/0200000000AKR20130606082000014.HTML|title=北, 남북 당국간 회담 전격 제의…정부 '수용'|access-date=16 October 2015|date=5 June 2013}}</ref>
Park said that peace and unification on the Korean peninsula is the wish of all 70 million Koreans and that as president she will do her utmost to meet such a goal. As well, "the ultimate objective of reunification efforts is to improve the quality of life of people in both Koreas, to further expand freedom and human rights, and [from there] build a prosperous Korean Peninsula."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34876444|title=North and South Korea to hold talks next week|publisher=BBC|access-date=16 December 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=20 November 2015}}</ref> She later stated, "to open a new era of peace and hope on the peninsula, North Korea needs to accept her administration's trust-building policy initiative".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/06/06/25/0301000000AEN20130606002500315F.HTML|title=(LEAD) S. Korean president calls on Pyongyang to accept 'trust-building' process|access-date=16 October 2015|date=6 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/south-korean-president-park-geun-hye-answers-questions/2013/05/07/d7482e5a-b761-11e2-b94c-b684dda07add_story.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | title=South Korean President Park Geun-hye answers questions|date=7 May 2013}}</ref>

Park's policy vision and initiative on issues concerning North Korea and unification are reflected in her Korean Peninsula Trust-building Process. The [[Ministry of Unification]] announced a new vision statement "realizing a new unified Korea that ensures everyone's happiness". The administrative tasks for this cause include normalizing inter-Korean relations through a trust-building process, embarking on small-scale unification projects that will lead to a complete integration of the two Koreas, and taking practical measures to prepare for unification by strengthening unification capabilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eng.unikorea.go.kr/CmsWeb/viewPage.req?idx=PG0000000694|title=unikorea|last=asadal|publisher=eng.unikorea.go.kr}}</ref> According to Park, peaceful unification will be achieved in a three-stage unification initiative: starting from securing peace, going through economic integration, and finally reaching political integration. To achieve sustainable peace by the initiative, the new administration will offer humanitarian assistance for the people in North Korea, inter-Korean exchange and cooperation in economic, social, and cultural areas, and will apply 'Vision Korea project' for establishing a single economic community in the Korean Peninsula, conditioned on sufficient mutual trust and progress in denuclearizing North Korea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://csis.org/publication/trust-underlying-philosophy-park-geun-hye-administration|title=Trust – The Underlying Philosophy of the Park Geun-Hye Administration|date=6 May 2013 |access-date=16 October 2015|last1=Cheon |first1=Dr Seongwhun }}</ref>

=== Second year (February 2014&nbsp;– February 2015) ===
[[File:Korea Official Welcome Ceremony for Pope Francis 04 (14914645045).jpg|thumb|300px|Park Geun-hye and [[Pope Francis]], 14 August 2014]]
Park proposed three steps to North Korea to help move toward the reunification of the Korean Peninsula, on 28 March in [[Dresden]], during her state visit to [[Germany]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-25/park-looks-to-once-divided-germany-to-spur-korean-reunification.html|title=Park Says Once-Divided Germany Is Model for Korea Reunification|date=26 March 2014|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref> She stated that "Starting with jointly managing rivers and forests running through the two Koreas, we need to expand joint projects that benefit both sides. In that respect, I hope North Korea will attend the [[Convention on Biological Diversity|UN Convention on Biological Diversity]] conference to be held in South Korean city of [[Pyeongchang County|Pyeongchang]] in October."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nSeq=166779|title=News View – The World On Arirang|author=arirang, Arirang International Broadcasting Foundation|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref>
In May 2014, Park warned that a new nuclear test by North Korea could lead to "a nuclear domino effect", that might provide its neighbors with a pretext to arm themselves with nuclear weapons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/south-korean-president-warns-regional-domino-effect-if-north-detonates-nuke-device|title=S. Korean Leader Warns of 'Nuclear Domino' if North Conducts Test (May 30, 2014), ''NTI''}}</ref>

On 18 May 2014, Park announced South Korea's "plans to break up its coastguard" after failing to respond well during the [[sinking of MV Sewol|MV ''Sewol'' ferry disaster]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27465378#TWEET1132272 |title=South Korea to break up coastguard after ferry disaster |publisher=BBC |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=21 May 2014}}</ref> According to Park, "investigation and information roles would be transferred to the South Korea National Police while the rescue and salvage operation and ocean security roles would be transferred to the Department for National Safety, not to be confused with the Korean [[Ministry of Security and Public Administration]], which will be newly established".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/18/world/asia/south-korea-coast-guard/|title=South Korean president dismantles coast guard after ferry disaster|first1=K.J.|last1=Kwon|first2=Paula|last2=Hancocks|first3=Jethro|last3=Mullen|date=19 May 2014|work=CNN|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref>
On 19 November 2014, the [[Korea Coast Guard]] and [[National Emergency Management Agency (South Korea)|National Emergency Management Agency]] ceased control as the [[Ministry of Public Safety and Security (South Korea)|Ministry of Public Safety and Security]] was founded at the same day.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 November 2014 |title=South Korea launches new safety agency |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-south-korea-launches-new-safety-agency-2014nov18-story.html |work=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]] |agency=Associated Press |access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref>

=== Third year (February 2015 – February 2016) ===
[[File:Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting South Korean President Park Geun-hye on the sidelines of the14th ASEAN-India Summit.jpg|thumb|Park meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 14th ASEAN-India Summit]]
On 26 May 2015, Park urged the head of the [[Asian Development Bank]] to cooperate with South Korea and the China-led [[Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Park calls for cooperation with China-led AIIB|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2015/05/26/9/0301000000AEN20150526009300315F.html|access-date=12 June 2015|agency=[[Yonhap News Agency]]|date=26 May 2015}}</ref> after South Korea had officially applied to join the Chinese-led [[Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank]] in late March 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jun|first1=Kwanwoo|last2=Gale|first2=Alastair|title=South Korea Says It Will Join China-Led Investment Bank|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-korea-says-it-will-join-china-led-asia-infrastructure-investment-bank-1427373167|access-date=12 June 2015|agency=The Wall Street Journal|date=26 March 2015}}</ref>

=== Fourth and final year (February 2016 – March 2017) ===
[[File:South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrived in Iran, Mehrabad Airport, Tehran 07.jpg|thumb|Park Geun-hye being welcomed by Iran's business minister, [[Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh]] in [[Mehrabad Airport]]]]
On 1 May 2016, Park became the first South Korean president to visit [[Iran]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2016/05/01/0301000000AEN20160501000200315.html|title=Park leaves for Iran for talks with Rouhani|access-date=29 October 2016|date=May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/116253/Korean-pres-makes-historic-visit-to-Tehran|title=Korean pres. makes historic visit to Tehran|date=1 May 2016|access-date=29 October 2016}}</ref> She was at the head of a 236-member delegation of businessmen and entrepreneurs during a three-day visit to [[Tehran]] to discuss bilateral trade and other matters of mutual interest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/301078/Park-on-landmark-visit-to-Tehran-economy-high-on-agenda|title=Park on landmark visit to Tehran, economy high on agenda|date=1 May 2016|access-date=29 October 2016}}</ref> She met Iranian President [[Hassan Rouhani]] and held talks with Supreme Leader [[Ali Khamenei]].<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ko:한겨레_세상을 보는 눈 |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/ |access-date=23 June 2024 |website=한겨레_세상을 보는 눈 |language=ko}}</ref> The two countries also signed 19 basic agreements to expand mutual cooperation over a variety of areas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2016 |title=South Korea, Iran Boost Ties |url=https://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2016/may/23/south-korea-iran-boost-ties |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901151524/http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2016/may/23/south-korea-iran-boost-ties |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 September 2016 |website=The Iran Primer}}</ref> Earlier, Iran's President Rouhani emphasized that Iran and South Korea were set to boost their trade volume from the current $6 billion to $18 billion.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

==== 2016 general elections ====
Park suffered a serious setback in the [[2016 South Korean legislative election|2016 general elections]] on 13 April 2016, as the Saenuri Party lost both its majority and its status as first party in the National Assembly.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/1935845/south-korean-election-setback-deals-severe-blow-president-park|title=South Korean election setback deals severe blow to President Park Geun-hye's economic reform agenda|newspaper=[[South China Morning Post]]|date=14 April 2016|access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref> Park had been criticized for her involvement in the elections and the party's nomination process,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/03/116_200839.html|title=Park's election meddling may backfire|newspaper=[[The Korea Times]]|date=21 March 2016|access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/03/116_201181.html|title=Park may stay in power after 2018|newspaper=[[The Korea Times]]|date=25 March 2016|access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref> and other Saenuri members blamed the pro-Park faction in the party for the defeat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/116_202637.html|title= Saenuri's defeat brewing political upheaval|newspaper=[[The Korea Times]]|date=14 April 2016|access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref> Park loyalists fared badly in constituency elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/116_202549.html|title=Park loyalists tumble|newspaper=[[The Korea Times]]|date=13 April 2016|access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref> The result was seen to hinder the chances of Park's passing her proposed economic reforms,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/conservative-rout-leaves-south-koreas-park-geunhye-a-lame-duck/news-story/16ca1208ddd42854cf92dae327574176?nk=c07dd96332972d39c73e50067a02b460-1460645891|title=Conservative rout leaves South Korea's Park Geun-hye a lame duck|newspaper=[[The Australian]]|date=14 April 2016|access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref> and in the aftermath of the results the conservative ''[[The Chosun Ilbo]]'' stated that Park's "[[Lame duck (politics)|lame duck]] period has started earlier than any other administration in the past".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-election-idUSKCN0XA2LC|title=Vote defeat for South Korea's Park raises 'lame duck' prospect|work=[[Reuters]]|date=14 April 2016|access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref>

=== Approval ratings ===
[[File:Park Geun-hye Presidential Approval Rating.svg|thumbnail|right|Park Geun-hye's Presidential Job Approval Rating]]
[[File:Park Geun-hye Approval ratings by age.svg|thumb|right|Approval ratings by age]]
In July 2013, public support for Park's method of governing state affairs reached up to 63 percent, higher than the percentage of the votes she had won in the presidential election, which was 52 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.co.kr/gallupdb/reportContent.asp?seqNo=449|script-title=ko:한국갤럽조사연구소|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref> The Korean media suggested that such a high level of support came from Park's principled North Korea policy, constructive outcomes from visits to the United States and China, and distancing from internal political disputes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mt.co.kr/view/mtview.php?type=1&no=2013070515551873288&outlink=1|title=朴대통령, 지지율 63% 급반등···취임후 최고|author=MoneyToday|date=5 July 2013 |access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref>

By January 2015, Park's approval rating had fallen to 30 percent, partly due to the [[sinking of MV Sewol|sinking of MV ''Sewol'']] and disputes with North Korea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/01/116_172335.html|title=Park's popularity hits new low|date=23 January 2015|access-date=29 October 2016}}</ref> By September 2015, Park's approval had increased to 54 percent due to her diplomacy that defused a military standoff with North Korea,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-04/south-korea-president-park-s-approval-highest-in-year-and-a-half |title=South Korea President Park's Approval Highest in Year-and-a-Half|date= 3 September 2015 |access-date= 29 December 2015|publisher=bloomberg.com}}</ref> but in the aftermath of her party's 2016 election loss, her ratings fell to 31.5 percent, plunging 8.1 percentage points compared to the week before the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/116_202869.html |title=Park and Saenuri's approval ratings dip to new lows |newspaper=[[The Korea Times]] |date=18 April 2016 |access-date=19 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504210254/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/116_202869.html |archive-date=4 May 2016 }}</ref>

On 4 November 2016, Park's ratings fell to 4–5% as details of her relationship with [[Choi Soon-sil]] were investigated and exposed in what became the [[2016 South Korean political scandal]].<ref name=Gallup2016111/><ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/south-koreas-presidency-on-the-brink-of-collapse-as-scandal-grows/2016/10/28/7639a2cc-1700-4ef7-a3a4-661b3ff989c4_story.html|title=South Korea's presidency 'on the brink of collapse' as scandal grows|date=29 October 2016|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref name="sports.khan.co.kr">{{cite web|url=http://sports.khan.co.kr/culture/sk_index.html?art_id=201612021024003&sec_id=560901|script-title=ko:한국갤럽 여론조사, 박근혜 대통령 지지율 4%|date=2 December 2016}}</ref>

==Arrest, detention, pardon and post-presidency (2017–present)==
[[File:Responses for impeachment in South Korea on 2017.ogv|240px|thumb|left|Immediate response to the decision of the [[Constitutional Court of Korea]] on 10 March 2017]]
Park was arrested on 31 March 2017, and held in pre-trial detention at the [[Seoul Detention Center]] in [[Uiwang]], [[Gyeonggi Province]].<ref>{{cite news |quote=Park, who was awaiting the ruling at a room of the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office, was taken to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, soon after the decision was announced. Park – in prison garb – is expected to travel back and forth to the prosecutors' office for additional questioning before being formally indicted. |first=Si-soo |last=Park |date=31 March 2017 |access-date=1 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401040413/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/03/251_226702.html |archive-date=1 April 2017 |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/03/251_226702.html |newspaper=[[The Korea Times]] |title=PARK GEUN-HYE ARRESTED}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/03/31/ousted-south-korean-leader-goes-from-presidential-palace-to-solitary-cell.html |first=Tong-Hyung |last=Kim |publisher=[[The Associated Press]] via [[The Toronto Star]] |title=Ousted South Korean leader goes from presidential palace to solitary cell |date=31 March 2017 |access-date=1 April 2017 |quote=Park Geun-hye entered the Seoul Detention Center in a black sedan before dawn Friday after a court approved her arrest on corruption allegations.}}</ref> On 17 April 2017, Park was formally charged with abuse of power, [[bribery]], coercion and leaking government secrets.<ref name="KTCharged">{{cite news |date=17 April 2017 |access-date=17 April 2017 |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/04/251_227690.html |title=Former President Park, Lotte chairman indicted on corruption charges |newspaper=[[The Korea Times]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417164527/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/04/251_227690.html |archive-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> Park denied the charges during five rounds of interrogation while in prison.<ref name="KTCharged" /><ref>{{cite news |date=17 April 2017 |access-date=17 April 2017 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/korean-leader-park-indicted-now-faces-trial-46838400 |first=Hyung-jin |last=Kim |publisher=Associated Press (via ABC News) |title=Ex-South Korean leader Park indicted, faces trial}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://graphics.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/Interactives/2017/03/south-korea-scandal-animated/index.html|title=All the Queen's men and women|work=The Straits Times|access-date=12 May 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Prosecutors sought a 30-year prison term for Park, along with a fine of [[South Korean won|₩]]188.5 billion ({{US$|110579397|link=yes}}). On 6 April 2018, a three-judge panel of the Central District Court in Seoul sentenced Park to 24 years in prison and a fine of ₩18 billion ({{US$|16,798,683|link=yes}}), finding her guilty of 16 out of 18 charges brought before her.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-politics-park/south-korean-prosecutors-seek-30-years-jail-for-ousted-park-as-supporters-demand-her-release-idUSKCN1GB0FJ |work=[[Reuters]] |title=South Korean prosecutors seek 30 years' jail for ousted Park as supporters demand her release |date=27 February 2018 |first1=Hyonhee |last1=Shin |first2=Heekyong |last2=Yang |first3=Christine |last3=Kim |editor-first=Nick |editor-last=Macfie}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/04/356_246875.html| title=Court orders 24 years in jail for former President Park| last=Kim| first=Se-jeong| newspaper=[[The Korea Times]]| date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Choe Sang-hun |date=6 April 2018 |title=Park Geun-hye, South Korea's Ousted President, Gets 24 Years in Prison |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/06/world/asia/park-geun-hye-south-korea.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/06/asia/south-korea-park-geun-hye-corruption-intl/index.html?sr=fbCNN040618south-korea-park-geun-hye-corruption-intl0810AMStory|title=Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye sentenced to 24 years in prison|author1=Paula Hancocks |author2=Yoonjung Seo |author3=James Griffiths|date=6 April 2018 |publisher=CNN}}</ref>
In June 2018, three former [[National Intelligence Service (South Korea)|NIS]] directors (Lee Byung-kee, Lee Byung-ho, and Nam Jae-joon) who served in the Park administration were found guilty of bribery, related to the [[2016 South Korean political scandal|2016 Park Geun-hye scandals]]. They illegally transferred money from the NIS budget to Park's presidential office. This illegally obtained money was used by Park and her associates for private use and to pay bribes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/06/15/asia-pacific/south-korea-jails-ex-spy-chiefs-bribing-former-president-park-geun-hye/ |title=South Korea jails ex-spy chiefs for bribing former President Park Geun-hye |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621174811/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/06/15/asia-pacific/south-korea-jails-ex-spy-chiefs-bribing-former-president-park-geun-hye/#.Wyvk81h_r2c|archive-date=21 June 2018 |website=[[The Japan Times]] |access-date=22 June 2018}}</ref> On 24 August 2018, Park's sentence was increased to 25 years in prison.<ref name=25yearssentence/>
[[File:KOREA_The_20th_President_Inauguration_Ceremony_531_(52063170376).jpg|thumbnail|right|Park Geun-hye (in purple) at the inauguration of President [[Yoon Suk-yeol]], May 2022. Seated at the right is former First Lady [[Kim Yoon-ok]].]]
In July 2020, an appellate court reduced Park's prison sentence to 20 years after a retrial, taking into account that she "received little personal benefit" from her offences, and Park was also cleared of charges of alleged extortion from conglomerates paying donations to foundations of Choi Soon-sil.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200710009300315|title=Appellate court slashes prison term of ex-President Park to 20 yrs in retrial|work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |date=10 July 2020|publisher=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |last1=Park |first1=Boram }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55657297|title=Park Geun-hye: South Korea court upholds 20-year jail term for ex-leader|work=[[BBC News]]|date=14 January 2021}}</ref> In January 2021, South Korea's top court upheld the 20-year prison sentence, bringing an end to the legal process.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=14 January 2021|title=Park Geun-hye: South Korea court upholds 20-year jail term for ex-leader|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55657297|access-date=}}</ref>

On 24 December 2021, it was announced that Park would receive a [[pardon]] from [[President of South Korea|South Korean President]] [[Moon Jae-in]].<ref name="auto2"/> In his pardon, President Moon cited Park's deteriorating health and the needs to "overcome unfortunate past history and promote national unity" as reasons for the pardon.<ref name="Reuters Park released from prison"/> On 31 December, she was released from prison,<ref name="Reuters Park released from prison">{{cite news |title=S Korea's ex-president Park freed after nearly 5 years in prison |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/31/s-koreas-disgraced-ex-president-park-freed-after-nearly-5-years-in-prison |access-date=2 January 2022 |agency=Reuters |work=Al Jazeera |language=en| date=31 December 2021}}</ref> returning home three months later on 24 March 2022.<ref name="Shin"/> New President [[Yoon Suk-yeol]] invited Park to his inauguration ceremony on 10 May 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skoreas-incoming-leader-yoon-visits-ex-president-he-investigated-2022-04-12/|title=South Korea's Yoon invites ex-president he once prosecuted to his inauguration|publisher=Reuters|last=Shin|first=Hyonhee|date=12 April 2022|access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref>

== Controversies and issues ==
=== Parentage controversy ===
Park had been often criticized for being the "daughter of a dictator" ([[Park Chung Hee]])<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=003&aid=0003762812|script-title=ko:이해찬 "野 총선승리 시 박근혜 별명은 '독재자의 딸'"|trans-title= Lee Hae-chan, "If the oppositions win the legislative election, Park Geun-hye's nickname will change (from Queen of election) to daughter of a dictator"|date=24 March 2011|access-date=16 May 2012|language=ko|work=[[Newsis]]|author=Chang Jin-bok (장진복)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newshankuk.com/news/content.asp?news_idx=2011011017184489054|script-title=ko:손학규 "누가 뭐래도 박근혜는 박정희의 딸"|trans-title=Sohn Hak-kyu, "No one can deny Park Geun-hye is the daughter of dictator Park Jeonghui"|date=10 January 2011|access-date=16 May 2012|work=News Hankook|author=Ko Dong-seok (고동석)|language=ko}}</ref> and by supporters of Lee Myung-bak for not actively supporting the Lee administration. A national-level poll conducted in July 2012 by a conservative newspaper reported that 59% of participants responded they did not believe Park was a "daughter of a dictator" while 36% agreed with the characterization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20120716/47788962/1|script-title=ko:[약속 2012 대선 여론조사]안철수 지지기반 30, 40대서 지지율 뚝…왜?|date=16 July 2012|website=[[The Dong-A Ilbo]]}}</ref> Park Chung Hee's status as a dictator became a contested topic after the [[1997 Asian financial crisis]].  GNP party elites saw this as their chance to revitalize Park Chung Hee's image, focusing on [[Miracle on the Han River|South Korea's economic growth]] during his administration, thus steadily changing his public perception.<ref name="Lee 377–391">{{Cite journal|last=Lee|first=Young-Im|date=21 July 2016|title=From first daughter to first lady to first woman president: Park Geun-Hye's path to the South Korean presidency|journal=Feminist Media Studies|language=en|volume=17|issue=3|pages=377–391|doi=10.1080/14680777.2016.1213307|s2cid=151382460|issn=1468-0777}}</ref>

During a 2012 interview with the [[Cheongju]] broadcast station ''[[Cheongju Broadcasting|CJB]]'', Park commented regarding her stance that her father's [[May 16 coup]] was a "revolution to save the country" by stating, "I don't think it's the place of politicians to be fighting over whether [the events of 1961] were a 'coup d'etat' or a 'revolution'."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/546402.html|title=Was it a 'coup' or a 'revolution'?|date=9 August 2012|access-date=9 August 2012|work=[[The Hankyoreh]]}}</ref> In a July 2012 survey, 50% of respondents answered that they disagreed with Park's assessment that her father's 1961 coup was "unavoidable, the best possible choice, and an advisable decision", as opposed to 37% that agreed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/544829.html|title=An leading Park in latest polls|date=30 July 2012|access-date=9 August 2012|work=[[The Hankyoreh]]}}</ref> From another survey conducted in July 2012, 42% of respondents agreed with her opinion that her father's 1961 coup was "unavoidable", while 46% disagreed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.co.kr/gallupdb/reportContent.asp?seqNo=312&pagepos=1&search=&searchKeyword=&selectYear=|script-title=ko:한국갤럽조사연구소|access-date=29 October 2016}}</ref>

Because Park inherited strong regional and generational support from her father, as well as the legacy of his economic success, Park's opponents used her father as criticism against her.<ref name="Lee 377–391"/>

=== Bu-il foundation accusations ===
Park has faced much scrutiny over an educational foundation, Jeongsoo Scholarship Foundation, formerly known as Buil (in reference to the stock it controls in the newspaper "[[Busan Ilbo]]"), which her father, and later she, headed. Its original owners claimed in court they were forced to turn it over to her father.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/556901.html | work=[[The Hankyoreh]] | title= Park Geun-hye denies involvement in scandal-ridden foundation | date=22 October 2012 | access-date=13 November 2012}}</ref>

=== Party criticism ===
[[Liberty Korea Party]] assemblyman [[Nam Kyung-pil]] criticized the Park-centered nature of the party, regarding its preparation for the [[2012 South Korean presidential election|2012 presidential election]], and stated, "If we keep seeing the same situation where Park Geun-hye gives a press conference before a general meeting of lawmakers is held, and what she says then gets decided on as the party's position, then the public is going to think democracy has disappeared from the party."<ref name="Hankyoreh-2012">{{cite news |author=Seong Yeon-cheol |date=16 July 2012 |title=Park Geun-hye's flip-flopping and double-talking |url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/542691.html |work=[[The Hankyoreh]] |access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref>

Furthermore, some have said Park's behavior in the lead-up to [[2012 South Korean presidential election|2012 presidential election]] was a mixture of trend-following and corner-cutting—a stark contrast with the vehement insistence on the principle that she showed when she opposed a revision of the plan for a multifunctional administrative city in [[Sejong City]]. For instance, [[Yim Tae-hee]], another presidential candidate of the party, pointed to Park's voting down of a motion to arrest [[Chung Doo-un]], a lawmaker implicated with bribery related to saving banks. Another candidate, [[Ahn Sang-soo (born May 1946)|Ahn Sang-soo]], accused Park of "saying one thing yesterday and another today".<ref name="Hankyoreh-2012"/>

=== Spokesman scandal ===
{{Further|Yoon Chang-jung}}

Park fired [[Yoon Chang-jung]], a [[Blue House]] spokesman who was alleged by [[Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia|Washington Police]] to have committed sexual assault against a young woman hired as an intern at the [[Embassy of South Korea, Washington, D.C.|South Korean Embassy in Washington]] during Park's first visit to the United States.<ref name="ny20130511">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/11/world/asia/spokesman-for-south-korean-leader-quits.html | newspaper=[[New York Times]] | title= South Korean President Fires Spokesman for 'Unsavory Act' During Visit to U.S. |first=SANG-HUN|last=CHOE| date=10 May 2013 | access-date=10 May 2013}}</ref>

=== Election-meddling scandal ===
{{Main|2012 NIS public opinion manipulation scandal}}
{{Update|section|date=November 2016}}

Just a week before the presidential election date, the opposing party alleged that the public servants from National Intelligence Service (NIS) had organized to promote Park's election campaign by way of posting online articles favorable to Park and slanderous to the opposing candidates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 August 2017 |title=South Korea spy agency admits trying to rig 2012 presidential election |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/04/south-koreas-spy-agency-admits-trying-rig-election-national-intelligence-service-2012 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> This political behavior by public servants is strictly prohibited by the Korean Constitution.<ref>{{cite news|title=Constitution of the Republic of Korea|url=http://korea.assembly.go.kr/res/low_01_read.jsp?boardid=1000000035|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710041912/http://korea.assembly.go.kr/res/low_01_read.jsp?boardid=1000000035|archive-date=10 July 2012}}</ref> To prove their allegation, the opposing Democratic Party, along with the police and Central Election Assistance Commission.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Choe |first=Sang-Hun |date=21 November 2013 |title=Prosecutors Detail Attempt to Sway South Korean Election |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/world/asia/prosecutors-detail-bid-to-sway-south-korean-election.html |access-date=9 July 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> From there, the 29-year-old female agent, later known as Ha-Young Kim, who was running an illegal online election campaign operation such as spreading slanderous postings about the opposing candidate had locked herself in.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} The police could not force to enter the house and the standoff lasted for three days, provoking a tense political standoff.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} The opposition accused the intelligence service of blocking an investigation.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} Park and her party accused the opposition of harassing the woman.<ref>{{cite news|last=Choe|first=Sang-Hun|date=18 April 2013|title=South Korean Intelligence Officers Are Accused of Political Meddling|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/19/world/asia/south-korean-intelligence-officers-are-accused-of-political-meddling.html}}</ref> Park even said the standoff of the self-lock-in was a violation of a female right in the presidential candidate debate that took place three days before the election.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

Later that night of the presidential debate, Kim Yong-pan, then the chief of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, publicly announced there was no evidence of illegal online postings from the collected laptop of the female agent.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} This announcement, which took place three days before the election, was believed to have significantly affected the outcome of the presidential election according to the opposing party.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} After months of probes into the alleged election meddling, the prosecution concluded in mid-June 2013 that Won Sei-hoon, then NIS chief who headed the intelligence agency for around four years under former President Lee Myung-bak, ordered agents to conduct an online smear campaign against opposition presidential candidates.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} The special investigation drew a conclusion that the agents systemically intervened in domestic politics by writing thousands of postings on politics in cyberspace through hundreds of different user IDs.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}  Kim Yong-pan, then chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), was prosecuted without physical detention on charges of abusing his authority to hamper police investigation into the case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/world/2013/08/11/1078601/news-analysis-skorea-rattled-spy-agencys-political-interference|title=News Analysis: SKorea rattled by spy agency's political interference|website=Philstar.com}}</ref> CCTV conversation between the computer analysts who were analyzing the laptop at police revealed that the police already knew there were illegal online postings against the opposing party's candidates, but the chief of SMPA publicly announced otherwise, an announcement that indicates intentional meddling into the presidential election.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

The investigation and the trial at court are on-going, and Park faces a political blow.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} However, the leading Saenuri party along with government leaders has attempted to dodge its political fall-out.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} Their effort has involved tipping a rumor to a major conservative media, Chosun Ilbo, about an extramarital child of the Chae Dong-wook, former Prosecutor General, who has approved the prosecution of Won Se-hoon and Kim Yong-pan, which eventually led to his resignation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/03/113_142783.html|title=Prosecutor general calls it quits|date=13 September 2013|website=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref> Yoon Suk-ryul, the director of the special investigation team, which was leading the probe into the election meddling, was fired and returned to his original position, head of Yeoju branch Supreme Prosecutors Office. The investigation of his team has further revealed that the NIS is suspected of having posted 55,689 messages on Twitter for three months until the presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.donga.com/en/List/article/all/20131022/407192/1|title=Prosecutors are swayed by internal conflict and external pressure|website=[[The Dong-A Ilbo]]}}</ref>

Whether or not the election meddling of the NIS by way of online posts has actually affected the outcome of the presidential election is controversial.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} However, the false announcement by Kim Yong-pan, then chief of the SMPA, has appeared to do so.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} Had the police announced honestly, 14% of the electorate who voted for Park said they would have voted for Moon Jae-In, the first runner-up of the election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.polinews.co.kr/news/article.html?no=183788|script-title=ko:[리서치뷰]국정원 경찰수사발표가 대선 결과 영향 52.8%|website=www.polinews.co.kr|date=16 August 2013 }}</ref>

=== Lack of communication ===
Park has been criticized for holding press conferences with questions and answers submitted in advance. By 11 January 2015, she had held four press conferences since taking office in February 2013. Among the four press conferences, three of them were public speeches without questions and answers. Even in the remaining press conference, the questions were submitted in advance and she read prepared answers. Her opponents labeled her as "No communication" (불통, ''Bultong'').<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ko:대통령 기자회견 |trans-title=Presidential Press Conference |publisher=Jeonbuk Daily |date=11 February 2015 |url=http://www.jjan.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=536421 |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=News Analysis: Park Geun-hye's first year: principle vs. non-communication |date=25 February 2014 |publisher=Xinhua |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2014-02/25/c_133141149.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019050939/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2014-02/25/c_133141149.htm |archive-date=19 October 2015 }}</ref>

=== November 2015 protests ===
On 15 November 2015, around 80,000 anti-government protesters clashed with government forces on the streets of Seoul, demanding that Park step down, with many of the protesters chanting "Park Geun-hye, step down". The rally was triggered by Park's adopting business-friendly labour policies and a decision to require middle and high schools to use only state-issued history textbooks in classes starting in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Anti-government protesters rally in South Korea|url = http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/11/anti-government-protesters-clash-police-korea-151114085804263.html|website = www.aljazeera.com|access-date = 14 November 2015}}</ref> combined with plans to make labour markets more flexible by giving employers more leeway in dismissing workers. Security forces fired tear gas and sprayed water cannons into the crowd when protesters attempted to break through police barricades.<ref>{{Cite news|title = S Korea protesters clash with police in Seoul – BBC News|work=[[BBC News]]|date = 14 November 2015|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34820596|access-date = 14 November 2015|language = en-GB}}</ref>

=== Censorship ===
In the wake of the April 2014 capsizing of the [[Sinking of MV Sewol|Sewol]] ferry, public outcry arose over the government's handling of the situation.  In response, the Park administration established a commission to monitor and prosecute social media critics of Park.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2015/south-korea
| title = South Korea {{!}} Country report 
| date = 2015
| publisher = Freedom in the World
| access-date = 28 February 2016
}}</ref>
[[Tatsuya Kato (journalist)|Tatsuya Kato]], a Japanese journalist who was a [[Seoul]] Bureau chief of South Korea at ''[[Sankei Shimbun]]'', was indicted on charges of defamation for reporting the relationship between Park and [[Choi Soon-sil]]'s husband, [[Chung Yoon-hoi]],  by the [[Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea]] after the [[sinking of MV Sewol|MV ''Sewol'' sank]].<ref name="wsj">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/korean-prosecutors-indict-japanese-journalist-on-defamation-charge-1412826990|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|title=Korean Prosecutors Indict Japanese Journalist on Defamation Charge – WSJ|access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="koreatimes">{{cite web|url=http://m.koreatimes.co.kr/phone/news/view.jsp?req_newsidx=209657|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103220306/http://m.koreatimes.co.kr/phone/news/view.jsp?req_newsidx=209657|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 November 2016|publisher=[[The Korea Times]]|title=US journal criticizes Park's regression into dictatorship|date=18 July 2016|access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref>

=== Public Official Election Act ===
On 25 June 2015, Park said that "Betrayal which breaks the trust shouldn't be accepted in politics and this should be punished by election with people's own hands". This mention was aimed to Yu Seungmin who was a member of Saenuri Party. Her statement was criticized by professor [[Jo Guk]] and politician [[Moon Jae-in]] because it was intended to affect Yu's election, which is forbidden by the Public Official Election Act. However, the National Election Commission decided not to treat Park's mention as a violation of the Act.<ref>Park's mention can be treated as a violation of public official election act http://finance.daum.net/news/news_content.daum?docid=MD20150628171008128 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208061538/http://finance.daum.net/news/news_content.daum?docid=MD20150628171008128 |date=8 December 2015 }} Ruling party floor leader resigns amid party's internal feud / YTN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvxXJr4PeIE</ref>

=== Comfort Women agreement ===
In 2015, Park reached an agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding the [[comfort women]] issue. Japan apologized to former comfort women and provided 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) towards an assistance fund as terms of the agreement. The two governments agreed that the issue would be "irreversibly resolved". However, in 2017, Park's successor, President Moon Jae-in, stated that the deal was seriously flawed and unilaterally terminated it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Korea's Moon Says 2015 'Comfort Women' Agreement With Japan 'Flawed'|url=https://www.voanews.com/east-asia/south-koreas-moon-says-2015-comfort-women-agreement-japan-flawed|access-date=6 June 2021|website=Voice of America|language=en}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

=== Choi Soon-sil scandal and impeachment ===
{{Main|2016 South Korean political scandal}}
{{See also|Impeachment of Park Geun-hye}}
[[File:Korea President Park Business Leaders 20130508 01.jpg|thumb|Park Geun-hye at a breakfast meeting with [[chaebol]] business magnates [[Lee Kun-hee]] and [[Chung Mong-koo]]]]

In October 2016, investigations into Park's relationship with [[Choi Soon-sil]], daughter of the late Church of Eternal Life cult leader and Park's mentor [[Choi Tae-min]], began.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/10/116_216623.html|date=23 October 2016|title=Investigations into 'Choi Soon-sil gate' widening|website=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=All the Queen's men and women|url=http://graphics.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/Interactives/2017/03/south-korea-scandal-animated/index.html|website=The Straits Times|access-date=21 March 2017}}</ref> Several news media including [[JTBC]] and [[the Hankyoreh]] reported that Choi, who has no official government position, had access to confidential documents and information for the president, and acted as a close confidant for the president. Choi and Park's senior staff including both Ahn Jong-bum and Jeong Ho-sung used their influence to extort ₩77.4 billion (approximately $75 million) from Korean [[chaebol]]s—family-owned large business conglomerates—and set up two culture and sports-related foundations, Mir and K-sports foundations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/768777.html|script-title=ko:박 대통령 독대한 대기업들 미르·K 출연금 유독 많았다|date=3 November 2016|publisher=[[The Hankyoreh]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/opinion/column/768706.html|script-title=ko:[안선희의 밑줄 긋기] 재벌들이 피해자라고?|date=3 November 2016|publisher=[[The Hankyoreh]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.donga.com/3/00/20161101/81099663/1|script-title=ko:[단독]"미르-K스포츠재단 모금, 안종범 수석이 지시했다"|date=November 2016|publisher=[[The Dong-A Ilbo]]}}</ref> Choi was also accused of having influenced [[Ewha Womans University]] to change their admission criteria in order for her daughter [[Chung Yoo-ra]] to be given a place there.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McCurry|first1=Justin|title='Rasputin-like' friend of South Korean president returns amid protests|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/30/south-korea-rasputin-like-friend-president-park-geun-hye-returns|work=The Guardian|date=30 October 2016}}</ref> Ahn Jong-bum and Jeong Ho-sung, top presidential aides, were arrested for abuse of power and helping Choi; they denied wrongdoing and claimed that they were simply following President Park's orders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.donga.com/rss/feed/3/all/20161102/81140663/1?gid=81140910&srev=1&regdate=20161103 |script-title=ko:검찰, 안종범 전 정책조정수석 긴급체포…서울남부구치소로 이송 |publisher=[[The Dong-A Ilbo]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104142326/http://news.donga.com/rss/feed/3/all/20161102/81140663/1?gid=81140910&srev=1&regdate=20161103 |archive-date=4 November 2016 }}</ref> Choi was also alleged to have used a South Korean overseas development assistance project (a convention center in [[Myanmar–South Korea relations|Myanmar]]) for improper personal benefits.<ref name="Strange">{{Cite book |last=Strange |first=Austin |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/9781009090902/type/element |title=Chinese Global Infrastructure |date=21 December 2023 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-1-009-09090-2 |edition= |series=Elements in Global China |format=EPUB |doi=10.1017/9781009090902}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=58–59}}

On 25 October 2016, Park publicly acknowledged her close ties with Choi. On 28 October, Park dismissed key members of her top office staff while her [[#Approval ratings|approval ratings]] fell to 4%.<ref name="sports.khan.co.kr"/> Her approval rating ranged from 1 to 3% for Korean citizens under 60 years of age, while it remained higher, at 13%, for the over-60 age group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/Mobile/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002257639#cb|title=President Park breaks YS's record, approval rating at 5 percent|date=6 November 2016|website=[[OhmyNews]]}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=December 2024}} It was the worst ever approval rate in Korean history and is worse than the 6% approval rating of former President [[Kim Young-sam]], who was widely blamed for forcing the Korean economy into the [[1997 Asian financial crisis]].<ref name="Gallup2016111">{{cite web |script-title=ko:데일리 오피니언 제234호(2016년 11월 1주) |trans-title=Daily Opinion No. 234 (1 November 2016) |publisher=[[Gallup Korea]] |url=http://www.gallup.co.kr/gallupdb/reportContent.asp?seqNo=787&pagePos=1&selectYear=&search=&searchKeyword=}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/10/116_217058.html|title=Park orders secretaries to resign over 'Choi Soon-sil scandal'|date=28 October 2016|website=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref> The controversy led to [[2016 South Korean protests|mass protests and rallies]] in October and November 2016 calling for her resignation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-politics-idUSKCN12T08V|title=Thousands protest in South Korea, demand president quit over scandal|website=Reuters|date=29 October 2016|last1=Kim|first1=Jack}}</ref> On 12 November, more than 1 million citizens participated in the protests at Gwanghwamun Square close to the presidential residence demanding Park's resignation or impeachment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.kr/2016/11/13/story_n_12936242.html|title='100만명'이 지하철 통계로 증명됐다|date=13 November 2016|publisher=huffingtonpost.kr}}</ref> On 19 November, another 1 million people participated in the national protest after Park refused to help in the investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20161120n00937|script-title=ko:들불로 번진 2주연속 '100만 촛불혁명'…26일 300만 예고|publisher=[[Nate News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/771080.html|title=Dreaming of a new world, one million candles again burn nationwide|publisher=[[The Hankyoreh]]}}</ref>

[[File:Protest Of President Park Geun Hye (191877143).jpeg|thumb|[[2016–2017 South Korean protests|Candlelight protest]] against Park Geun-hye in [[Seoul]], 7 January 2017]]

Park then fired a number of her cabinet members and the prime minister. In particular, the sacking of the prime minister, [[Hwang Kyo-ahn]], resulted in controversy, due to the claim that his firing was carried out via a text message.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.khan.co.kr/view.html?artid=201611032237025&code=910100|title=Left wings outrage regarding text firing of Hwang Kyo-ahn|website=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]]|date=3 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.insight.co.kr/newsRead.php?ArtNo=81335|title=Prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn 'fired' by president Park via a text message|website=Insight}}</ref> The Supreme Prosecutors' Office of Korea (SPO), in laying charges against Choi and two former presidential aides, alleged that Park colluded with the three in certain criminal activities. The president would be questioned by prosecutors, the first time this has occurred with a serving South Korean president.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Agence France-Presse|title=Choi-gate prosecutors accuse South Korean president of collusion|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/20/choi-gate-prosecutors-accuse-south-korean-president-of-collusion|work=The Guardian|date=20 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/11/20/2016112000593.html|script-title=ko:최순실, 딸 친구 부모 민원 들어주고 1000만원 샤넬백 등 5000만원 챙겨|date=22 July 2020|publisher=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20161120n10972|title=檢, 헌정사상 첫 현직 대통령 피의자 입건…"3명과 공모범행"(종합)|publisher=[[Nate News]]}}</ref> Following the scandal, there was a series of massive demonstrations that started in the first week of November 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asiatimes.com/article/south-koreas-president-park-beast-public-sentiment/|title=South Korea's President Park and the beast of public sentiment|last=Breen|first=Michael|date=29 November 2016|website=www.atimes.com|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> On 29 November 2016, Park offered to resign as president, and invited the National Assembly to arrange a transfer of power. The opposition parties rejected the offer, accusing Park of attempting to avoid the process of impeachment.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McCurry|first1=Justin|title=South Korea's president calls on parliament to arrange her exit|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/29/south-koreas-president-calls-on-parliament-to-arrange-her-exit|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=29 November 2016|date=29 November 2016}}</ref>

The National Assembly instead filed a motion for impeachment, which was put to a vote on 9 December 2016<ref>{{cite news|author1=Agence France-Presse|title=South Korean president Park Geun-Hye to face impeachment vote|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/03/south-korean-president-park-geun-hye-to-face-impeachment-vote|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=3 December 2016|date=3 December 2016|author1-link=Agence France-Presse}}</ref> and passed with 234 supporters.<ref name="nyt-impeachments">{{cite news|last1=Choe|first1=Sang-hun|title=South Korea Parliament Votes to Impeach President Park Geun-hye|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/09/world/asia/south-korea-president-park-geun-hye-impeached.html|access-date=9 December 2016|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=9 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Joo|first1=Youngjae|script-title=ko:[속보]박근혜 대통령 탄핵소추안 가결···찬성 234·반대 56·무효 7·기권 2|url=http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201612091610001&code=940100|access-date=9 December 2016|work=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]]|date=9 December 2016|language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/southkorea-politics-idINKBN13X2JQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208212010/http://in.reuters.com/article/southkorea-politics-idINKBN13X2JQ|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 December 2016|title=South Korean parliament votes overwhelmingly to impeach President Park|first1=Ju-min|last1=Park|first2=Jack|last2=Kim|newspaper=Reuters|date=9 December 2016}}</ref> Due to the ratification of her [[Impeachment of Park Geun-hye|impeachment proposal]], her presidential powers and duties were suspended, and Prime Minister [[Hwang Kyo-ahn]] assumed those powers and duties as acting president.<ref name="Yonhap" />
Park was finally ousted from office by the Constitutional Court on 10 March 2017. The decision was unanimous, 8–0 in favour of the impeachment, as announced shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite news|title=South Korea president Park Geun-hye ousted by court|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39202936|access-date=10 March 2017|agency=BBC|date=10 March 2017}}</ref> On 26 March 2017, South Korean prosecutors announced they were seeking an arrest warrant against Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/27/asia/south-korea-park-geun-hye/index.html|title=Arrest warrant sought for ousted South Korean president|author=Taehoon Lee|website=CNN|date=27 March 2017|access-date=27 March 2017}}</ref> This warrant was granted by the Seoul Central District Court on 31 March 2017, and Park was arrested later that day, and was later sentenced to 25 years in prison.<ref name="BBC_arrest1">{{cite news|title=Ex-South Korean president Park Geun-hye arrested|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39449681|access-date=30 March 2017|work=BBC|date=30 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Jugan-sisah magazine|date=6 April 2018|title=Park Geun hye, sentenced for 24 years with 180 billion won fine.|url=https://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.nhn?volumeNo=14677670&memberNo=31709319&vType=VERTICAL|website=Juganshisamagazine (weekly magazines)}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=January 2025}}

=== Pardon ===
In December 2021, the government of President Moon Jae-in decided to issue Park a pardon. The Justice Ministry said the reason for doing so was to promote reconciliation and consolidate national power to help overcome the national crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Moon also said Park's declining health had played a role in the decision. Park was pardoned under a broad amnesty that benefited 700 other prisoners, whose remaining prison terms would be eradicated or cut in half.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Choe |first=Sang-Hun |date=24 December 2021 |title=South Korea to Pardon Ex-President Park Geun-hye, Imprisoned for Corruption |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/world/asia/south-korea-park-geun-hye-pardon.html |access-date=9 July 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> She arrived home in March 2022 after having been hospitalized at Samsung Medical Center.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2022 |title=Thousands welcome home pardoned S. Korean ex-President Park |url=https://apnews.com/article/seoul-south-korea-park-geun-hye-a20583a6777d829cfe1d289568d5631d |access-date=9 July 2023 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

==Honours==
* {{flag|South Korea}}:
** [[File:Grand Order of Mugunghwa (South Korea) - ribbon bar.svg|70px]] Recipient of the [[Grand Order of Mugunghwa]]

===Foreign honours===
* {{flag|Austria}}:
** [[File:AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 1st Class BAR.svg|70px]] Grand Star of the [[Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria]]
* {{flag|Peru}}
** [[File:PER_Order_of_the_Sun_of_Peru_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.png|70px]] [[Order of the Sun of Peru|Grand Cross of Order of the Sun of Peru]] 
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}:
** [[File:Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|70px]] Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Bath]] (GCB, 2013)

== Electoral history ==
=== National Assembly races (1998 to present) ===
==== 1998 ====
{{Election box begin no change | title=15th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections, 1998 by-election, Dalseong, Daegu<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1998040300289101004&edtNo=5&printCount=1&publishDate=1998-04-03&officeId=00028&pageNo=1&printNo=3157&publishType=00010|script-title=ko:한나라 재보선 4곳 석권|trans-title=GNP won all four seats of by-election|date=3 April 1998|access-date=16 May 2012|work=[[The Hankyoreh]]|author1=An Jaeseung (안재승)|author2=Choe Ikrim (최익림)|author3=Hong Dae-sun (홍대선)|author4=Sin Seung-geun (신승근)|language=ko|quote=대구 달성에선 이날 자정 현재 82%개표 상황에서 박근혜 후보가 2만8937표(51.5%)를 얻어 1만 6355표(29.1%)를 얻은 엄삼탁 국민회의 후보를 크게 앞지르며 당선됐다. [In Dalseong Daegu, 82% votes were counted by 12 am. And Park Geun-hye got 28,937 (52%) votes, compared to 16,355 (29%) votes for Eom Samtak of Democratic Party. Park has been elected by wide margin.]}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Grand National Party
|candidate = Park Geun-hye
|votes = 28,937
|percentage = 64
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = National Congress for New Politics
|candidate = Eom Sam-tak
|votes = 16,355
|percentage = 36
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 45,292
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
|winner = Grand National Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

==== 2000 ====
{{Election box begin no change | title=16th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections, 2000, Dalseong, Daegu<ref name="nec.go.kr">{{cite web|url=http://www.nec.go.kr/sinfo/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218232337/http://www.nec.go.kr/sinfo/|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2013|script-title=ko:중앙선거관리위원회, 역대 선거정보 시스템|trans-title=NEC, past election result|access-date=16 May 2012}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Grand National Party
|candidate = Park Geun-hye
|votes = 37,805
|percentage = 61
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Millennium Democratic Party
|candidate = Eom Sam-tak
|votes = 23,744
|percentage = 38
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 62,738
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
|winner = Grand National Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

==== 2004 ====
{{Election box begin no change | title=17th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections, 2004, Dalseong, Daegu<ref name="nec.go.kr" />}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Grand National Party
|candidate = Park Geun-hye
|votes = 45,298
|percentage = 70
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Uri Party
|candidate = Yun Yong-hui
|votes = 15,014
|percentage = 23
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Labor Party (South Korea)
|candidate = Heo Gyeong-do
|votes = 4,367
|percentage = 7
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 65,633
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
|winner = Grand National Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

==== 2008 ====
{{Election box begin no change | title=18th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections, 2008, Dalseong, Daegu<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nec.go.kr:7070/abextern/Tgm/tgm_map.jsp|script-title=ko:중앙선거관리위원회, 18대 국회의원 선거관리 시스템|trans-title=National Election Committee, 18th legislative election information|access-date=16 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904135208/http://www.nec.go.kr:7070/abextern/Tgm/tgm_map.jsp|archive-date=4 September 2012}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Grand National Party
|candidate = Park Geun-hye
|votes = 50,149
|percentage = 89
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Labor Party (South Korea)
|candidate = No Yun-jo
|votes = 5,080
|percentage = 9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Peace United Family Party
|candidate = Im Jung-heon
|votes = 1,386
|percentage = 2
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 57,416
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
|winner = Grand National Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

==== 2012 ====
{{Election box begin no change | title=19th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections, 2012, Proportional Representative<ref>{{cite web|url=http://info.nec.go.kr/electioninfo/electionInfo_report.xhtml?electionId=0020120411&requestURI=%2Felectioninfo%2F0020120411%2Fvc%2Fvccp09.jsp&topMenuId=VC&secondMenuId=VCCP&menuId=VCCP09&statementId=VCCP09_%237&electionCode=7&cityCode=0&sggCityCode=0&x=45&y=1|title=Voting figures for proportional representation by parties (in Korean)|work=National Election Commission|access-date=16 May 2012}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0005581817|script-title=ko:새누리당 비례대표 당선자 박근혜|trans-title=Saenuri Proportional Representation-elect, Park Geun-hye|date=12 April 2012|access-date=16 May 2012|language=ko|work=[[Yonhap News Agency]]}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Saenuri Party
|candidate = Park Geun-hye
|votes = 9,130,651 |percentage = 43}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
|winner = Saenuri Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

=== Presidential (2012) ===
{{#section:2012 South Korean presidential election|resultstable}}

== Publications ==
=== Books ===
* {{Cite book |author=Park Geun-hye |author-mask=2 |date=July 2007 |script-title=ko:절망은 나를 단련시키고 희망은 나를 움직인다  |trans-title=Despair Trains Me and Hope Moves Me|language=ko |publisher=Wisdom House |isbn=978-89-6086-033-9}}
* {{Cite book |author=Park Geun-hye |author-mask=2 |date=January 2001 |script-title=ko:나의 어머니 육영수 |trans-title=My mother, Yuk Young-soo |language=ko |publisher=People&People |isbn=978-89-85541-54-1}}
* {{Cite book |author=Park Geun-hye |author-mask=2 |date=October 1998 |script-title=ko:결국 한 줌, 결국 한 점 |trans-title=In the End Only a Fistful, One Speck |language=ko |publisher=[[Busan Ilbo]] Books |isbn=978-89-87236-25-4}}
* {{Cite book |author=Park Geun-hye |author-mask=2 |date=October 1998 |script-title=ko:고난을 벗 삼아 진실을 등대삼아 |trans-title=Befriending Adversity: Truth as the Guiding Light |language=ko |publisher=[[Busan Ilbo]] Books |isbn=978-89-87236-24-7}}
* {{Cite book |author=Park Geun-hye |author-mask=2 |date=May 1995 |script-title=ko:내 마음의 여정 |trans-title=Journey of My Mind |language=ko |publisher=Hansol Media |isbn=978-89-85656-50-4}}
* {{Cite book |author=Park Geun-hye |author-mask=2 |date=November 1993 |script-title=ko:평범한 가정에 태어났더라면 |trans-title=If I Were Born in an Ordinary Family |language=ko |publisher=Nam Song |isbn=9780307455628 |oclc=33010951}}

=== Articles ===
* {{Cite magazine |title=A New Kind of Korea: Building Trust Between Seoul and Pyongyang |url=http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/68136/park-geun-hye/a-new-kind-of-korea?page=show |magazine=[[Foreign Affairs]] |date=September–October 2011 |access-date=14 August 2012}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|South Korea}}
* [[Politics of South Korea]]

== Explanatory footnotes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=
<ref name="New Pres Dec 19 2012">{{cite news |last=Guray|first=Geoffrey Lou|title=South Korea Elects First Female President&nbsp;– Who Is She?|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/south-korea-1|publisher=PBS NewsHour|access-date=17 October 2015|date=19 December 2012 }}</ref> 
}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://english.president.go.kr Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112193523/http://english.president.go.kr/ |date=12 November 2018 }} {{In lang|en}}
* [http://fsi.stanford.edu/news/madam_park_geun_hye_addresses_us__korea_relations_in_a_changing_world_20090506 Park Geun-hye addresses "U.S.–Korea Relations in a Changing World"] at [[Stanford University]], 6 May 2009
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080908012812/http://www.iop.harvard.edu/Multimedia-Center/All-Videos/Korea-in-the-21st-Century-Challenges-and-Prospects2 Park Geun-hye's speech at the JFK Jr. Forum], Harvard University, 12 February 2007
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35058-2005Mar14.html?nav=rss_topnews "Star Rises for Daughter of South Korea"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', 15 March 2005
* [http://graphics.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/Interactives/2017/03/south-korea-scandal-animated/index.html "All the Queen's men and women"], ''[[The Straits Times]]'', 20 March 2017
* {{C-SPAN|70694}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hon}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Yuk Young-soo]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[First Lady of South Korea]]<br />Acting|years=16 August 1974 – 26 October 1979}}
{{S-aft|after=Hong Gi}}
|-
{{S-par|kr}}
{{S-bef|before=Gim Suk-won}}
{{S-ttl|title=Member of the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]]<br />from [[Dalseong County]]|years=3 April 1998 – 29 May 2012}}
{{S-aft|after=Lee Jong-jin}}
|-
{{S-ppo}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Choi Byung-ryeol]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=Leader of the [[Liberty Korea Party|Grand National Party]]|years=23 March 2004 – 10 July 2006}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Kang Jae-sup]]}}
|-
{{S-bef|before=[[Hong Jun-pyo]]|as=Leader of the Grand National Party}}
{{S-ttl|title=Leader of the [[Liberty Korea Party|Saenuri Party]]|years=17 December 2011 – 15 May 2012}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Hwang Woo-yea]]}}
|-
{{S-off}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Lee Myung-bak]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[President of South Korea]]|years=25 February 2013 – 10 March 2017<br /><small>(Powers and duties suspended) 9 December 2016 – 10 March 2017</small>}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Hwang Kyo-ahn]] <small>(acting)</small><br />[[Moon Jae-in]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{Presidents of South Korea}}{{Park Chung Hee}}{{Saenuri Party}}
{{2007 South Korean presidential candidates}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Park, Geun-hye}}
[[Category:Park Geun-hye| ]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:21st-century South Korean politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century South Korean women politicians]]
[[Category:Children of presidents of South Korea]]
[[Category:Female heads of government]]
[[Category:First ladies of South Korea]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the Sun of Peru]]
[[Category:Heads of government who were later imprisoned]]
[[Category:Honorary Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Impeached presidents removed from office]]
[[Category:Liberty Korea Party politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the National Assembly (South Korea)]]
[[Category:Park Chung Hee]]
[[Category:Park family|Geun-hye]]
[[Category:Presidency of Park Geun-hye]]
[[Category:People associated with the 2016 South Korean political scandal]]
[[Category:People convicted of bribery]]
[[Category:People from Daegu]]
[[Category:Presidents of South Korea]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of South Korea]]
[[Category:Recipients of South Korean presidential pardons]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria]]
[[Category:Sogang University alumni]]
[[Category:South Korean politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:South Korean prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:Women opposition leaders]]
[[Category:Women presidents in Asia]]
[[Category:Women members of the National Assembly (South Korea)]]
[[Category:First women presidents]]