Park Geun-hye served as President of South Korea from 2013 to 2017. She is the first woman to serve as  president of South Korea and the first popularly elected head of state in East Asia.

Geun-hye was born in Daegu and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Sogang University in 1974. 

As the daughter of a former president, she entered politics early in her life to act as first lady after the assassination of her mother in 1974. From 1998 until 2012, Geun-hye served as a member of the National Assembly. She led the Grand National Party from 2004 to 2006. Additionally, she led the Saenuri Party from 2011 to 2012.