Park Geun-hye

Park Geun-hye served as the 18th President of South Korea from 2013 to 2017, making her the country's first female president. Born in 1952, she was the daughter of former president Park Chung-hee, whose authoritarian rule shaped South Korea's modernization. Park Geun-hye's political career began in the National Assembly before her presidency. Her administration focused on economic policies termed the 'Creative Economy' and pursued diplomatic initiatives including the 'Trustpolitik' approach to North Korea. However, her presidency became increasingly controversial, culminating in a major corruption scandal involving her close confidante Choi Soon-sil, a shamanist with no official position who allegedly wielded significant influence over state affairs and major corporations. Following her impeachment in 2016 and election loss, Park was convicted of multiple charges including bribery, abuse of power, and coercion. She was imprisoned and later released on parole, eventually receiving a presidential pardon in 2021. Her presidency and subsequent legal troubles reflected deep divisions in South Korean society and raised questions about executive accountability and the power of personal relationships in governance.