Park Geun-hye — Profile, Rankings & Fame Trend

Summary

Updated 2026-06-08

First woman elected president in South Korea's history, then the first president removed by impeachment. Park Geun-hye rose on the legacy of her dictator father and fell through a corruption scandal involving her confidante's influence-peddling, trading the Blue House for a 25-year prison sentence.

Biography

About

Born in Daegu on 2 February 1952, Park Geun-hye is the eldest daughter of Park Chung Hee, South Korea's third president. After her mother's assassination in 1974, she served as acting first lady until her father was killed in 1979. She graduated from Sogang University with a degree in electronic engineering that same year, then withdrew from public life for nearly two decades. Between 1998 and 2012, she served four consecutive terms in the National Assembly and led the conservative Grand National Party from 2004 to 2006. In 2013, she became South Korea's 11th president and the first woman elec…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Park Geun-hye

Park Geun-hye

said15 Aug 2015

But the joy of the longawaited liberation ended up being only half fulfilled.

— Commemorative Address on the 70th Anniversary of Liberation of Korea from Japanese rule (August 15, 2015)

Park Geun-hye

said11 Jun 2015

Historians in Japan as well as historians across the world have been calling on the Japanese leadership to come clean about what they have done in the past so we can move forward.

— In an interview with the Washington Post (June 11, 2015)

Park Geun-hye

said11 Jun 2015

Currently, North Korea is constantly upgrading and enhancing the sophistication of its nuclear weapons, and developing and honing its missile capabilities as well.

— In an interview with the Washington Post (June 11, 2015)

Park Geun-hye

said29 May 2014