Park Geun-hye 박근혜 朴槿惠
Leader of the Saenuri Party
In office 17 December 2011 – 15 May 2012
Preceded by	Hong Jun-pyo
Succeeded by	Hwang Woo-yea[1]
In office 23 March 2004 – 10 July 2006
Preceded by	Choi Byeong-ryeol
Succeeded by	Kang Jae-sup
First Lady of South Korea Acting
In office 16 August 1974 – 26 October 1979
President	Park Chung-hee
Preceded by	Yuk Young-soo
Succeeded by	Hong Gi
Member of the National Assembly for Dalseong
In office 3 April 1998 – 29 May 2012
Preceded by	Kim Suk-won
Succeeded by	Lee Jong-jin
Member of the National Assembly Proportional Representation
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 May 2012
Personal details
Born	(1952-02-02) 2 February 1952 (age 60) Daegu, South Korea
Political party	Saenuri Party
Alma mater	Sogang University
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	Official website Cyworld Twitter

Park Geun-hye (Hangul: 박근혜; Hanja: 朴槿惠; born 2 February 1952) is a South Korean politician. She was the chairwoman of the conservative Grand National Party (GNP) between 2004 and 2006 and between 2011 and 2012 (The GNP changed its name to Saenuri Party in February 2012). Park is a member of the Korean National Assembly who had served four consecutive parliamentary terms as a constituency representative between 1998 and 2012, and will start her fifth term as a proportional representative from May 2012. Her father was Park Chung-hee, president of South Korea from 1963 to 1979. She is considered the most influential politician in Korea since the three Kims (Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-pil)^[2] and the top candidate to be the next president of South Korea, with a 42.1% approval rating as of April 2012.^[3]

Biography[link]

Early life and education[link]

Park was born on February 2, 1952 in Samdeok-dong of Jung-gu, Daegu, as the first child of Park Chung-hee and Yuk Young-soo. She has a younger brother, Park Ji-man, and a younger sister, Park Seo-yeong.

Park graduated from Seoul's Seongsim High School in 1970, going on to receive a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Sogang University in 1974. She received an honorary doctoral degree from Chinese Culture University in Taiwan in 1987, Pukyong National University and KAIST in 2008, and Sogang University in 2010.

First Lady (as the president's daughter)[link]

Park lost her mother to Mun Se-gwang, a Japanese-born Korean assassin, a member of General Association of Korean Residents in Japan under the command of the North Korean government in the National Theater of Korea, Seoul on 15 August 1974.^[4] Since then, she was regarded as first lady until 1979 when her father was also assassinated by his own intelligence chief, Kim Jae-gyu, on 26 October 1979. During this time, activists who were political opponents of her father were claimed to be subject to arbitrary detention, and human rights were considered subordinate to economic development.^[5] In 2007 Park Geun-hye has expressed regret at the treatment of activists during this period.^[6]

Political career[link]

Assemblywoman[link]

Park was elected a Grand National Party (GNP) assemblywoman for Dalseong, Daegu in 1998 by-election, and elected three more times in the same electoral district between 1998 and 2008, being the incumbent assemblywoman as of April 2012. In 2012, Park announced that she would not run for a constituency representative seat for the 19th election in Dalseong or anywhere else, but for a proportional representative position for the Saenuri Party, instead, in order to lead the party's election campaign. She was elected as a proportional representative in the April 2012 election.

GNP chairwoman and "Queen of Elections"[link]

Due to the failed attempt of impeaching President Roh Mu Hyun and the bribery scandal of its 2002 presidential candidate Lee Hoi Chang revealed in 2004, the GNP was facing a severe defeat in 2004 general election. Park was appointed as the chairwoman of the party and led the election efforts. In the election, the GNP lost its majority position, but managed to gain 121 seats, which is largely considered a great achievement under such inhospitable circumstances for the party.^[7][8] 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 May 20, 2006, Ji Chung-ho, a 50-year old criminal with 8 previous convictions slashed Park's face with a utility knife, causing a 11-centimeter wound on her face, requiring 60 stitches and hours of surgery.^[9][10] 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 Daejon?" After this, the candidate from the Grand National Party won the election for the mayor of city of Daejon despite trailing by more than 20 percentage points in opinion polls up to the point. 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 Park's influence and efforts.^[11][12] This feat gave Park a nickname "Queen of Elections".

On February 12, 2007, Park made a much-publicized visit to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States. Her visit culminated in an address to a packed audience at the Kennedy School of Government, where she said she wanted to "save" Korea and advocated a stronger relationship between South Korea and the US.^[13][14]

2008 Presidential bid[link]

Park hoped to emulate her father's success by becoming the presidential nominee of the Grand National Party.^{[citation needed]} 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 member's bid", but she lost the "national bid" which is a larger percentage of the total presidential bid.

2008 General Election[link]

After the 2007 presidential election, President Lee Myung-bak formed a government mostly of his close supporters.^{[citation needed]} Park's supporters argued that this was a kind of political reprisal, and that they should secede the Grand National Party.^{[citation needed]} Eventually, they formed parties named Pro-Park Coalition and Solidarity for Pro-Park Independents (친박 무소속 연대; Chinbak Musosok Yeondae). Park herself did not join them, but indirectly supported them by announcing "I hope these people to come back alive". After the mass secession, the rebels announced that they would rejoin GNP after the general election but GNP prohibited it.

In the following 2008 general election, the rebels won 26 seats: 14 from the Pro-Park Coalition and 12 as independents. Together, they played a pivotal role in the GNP's narrow majority. Park continually insisted that GNP should allow the return of her supporters. As of 2011, most of these rebels had returned to the GNP, resulting in approximately 50–60 assembly members who supports Park out of 171 in the GNP.

Head of Saenuri Party[link]

As a response of dwindling approval rating of the GNP, the party formed an emergency committee and changed the name of the political party from the Grand National Party to the Saenuri Party, meaning "New Frontier Party". On December 19, 2011, Park was appointed as the chairwoman of GNP's Emergency Committee, the de facto leader of the party.

2012 General Election[link]

Saenuri Party claimed a surprise win against the opposing Democratic United Party in 2012 General Election, winning 152 seats and retaining its majority position. Because of corruption scandals of the Lee Administration revealed before the election, Saenuri Party was widely expected to win no more than 100 seats.^[15] During the 13-day campaign period, Park traveled about 7200 km around South Korea, visiting more than 100 constituencies.^[16] It is the consensus of Korean news media and political experts that the most important factor which led 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".^[15][17] Saenuri's defeat in the populous Seoul metropolitan area in this election, however, revealed the limitation of Park's political influence.^[15]

Potential 2012 presidential candidate[link]

Park has been the leading candidate for the 2012 presidential election in every national-level poll in South Korea between 2008, when Lee Myung-bak administration began, and September 2011, with an approval rating of about 25%–45%, more than twice that of the second candidate. Park's approval rating was highest when 2008 National Assembly election showed her strong influence and lowest in early 2010 as a result of her political stance against Lee administration in Sejong City issue.^[18]

In September 2011, Ahn Cheol-Soo, a former venture IT businessman and the Dean of Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, emerged as a strong independent candidate for presidency. In national-level presidential polls in September 2011, Ahn and Park Geun Hye closely competed for the status of front-runner, with Park losing the top seat in some polls for first time since 2008^[19] (which, however, were not conducted according to established polling methods).^{[citation needed][19]}

After her victory in 2012 General Election, Park's approval rating significantly increased. In a survey by Korean Gallup in April 2012,^[20] Park was the top presidential candidate with the approval rating of 37.0% when competing with all potential candidates, and had a higher approval rating (45.1%) than Ahn (35.9%) in a two-way competition with Ahn.

Criticism[link]

Park had been often criticized for being the "daughter of a dictator" mainly by left-wing Korean politicians^[21][22] and for not actively supporting the Lee administration by supporters of Lee Myung-Bak. One of degrading nicknames for her is "Notebook Princess" (수첩공주; Sucheop gongju), as she grew up as a privileged child in the "royal" presidential family^{[citation needed]} and has been very taciturn, usually only speaking publicly from prepared manuscripts.

Park has faced much scrutiny over an educational foundation, formerly known as Bu-il (after 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.^{[citation needed]}

Electoral history[link]

National Assembly races (1998 to present)[link]

1998[link]

2000[link]

2004[link]

2008[link]

2012[link]

Essay[link]

• "Despair trains me and Hope moves me" (in Korean: 절망은 나를 단련시키고 희망은 나를 움직인다), Wisdom House, July 2007, ISBN 89-6086-033-6
• "My mother, Yuk Young-soo" (in Korean: 나의 어머니 육영수), People&People, January 2001, ISBN 89-85541-54-4
• "In the end only a fistful, one speck" (in Korean: 결국 한 줌, 결국 한 점), Busan Ilbo books, October 1998, ISBN 89-87236-25-0
• "Befriending adversities, Truth as the guiding light" (in Korean: 고난을 벗삼아 진실을 등대삼아), Busan Ilbo books, October 1998, ISBN 89-87236-24-2
• "Journey of my mind" (in Korean: 내 마음의 여정), Hansol Media, May 1995, ISBN 89-85656-50-3
• "If I were born in an ordinary family" (in Korean: 평범한 가정에 태어났더라면), Nam Song, November 1993, ISBN 2001044000207

See also[link]

• Politics of South Korea
• Park Chung-hee
• Grand National Party
• Saenuri Party

References[link]

External links[link]

• Park Geun-hye addresses "US–Korea Relations in a Changing World" at Stanford University, 6 May 2009
• Park Geun-hye's speech at the JFK Jr. Forum, Harvard University, 12 February 2007
• "Star Rises for Daughter of South Korea", The Washington Post, 15 March 2005.

v t e Candidates in the South Korean presidential election, 2007 Liberals (Pro-Govt Primary) UNDP Primary Chung Dong-young Sohn Hak-kyu (2nd) Lee Hae Chan (3rd) Creative Korea Moon Kook-hyun Democratic Party Lee In-je Jang Sang Kim Min-seok Shin Guk-hwan Conservatives (GNP Primary) Grand National Lee Myung-bak Won Hee-ryong (3rd) Park Geun-hye (2nd) Hong Jun-pyo (4th) Independent Lee Hoi-chang Progressives (DLP Primary) Kwon Young-ghil Shim Sang-jeong (2nd) Roh Hoe-chan (3rd) Independents Huh Kyung-young (Republican) Geum Min (Socialist) Chung Kun-mo (True Owner Coalition) Chun Gwan (CSFTA) Resigned Sim Dae-pyong (People First Party) Lee Soo-sung (People's Coalition for Unity and Advance) Official candidates in small caps

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Jang Keun-suk
Jang Keun-suk in Bangkok in January 2011
Born	(1987-08-04) 4 August 1987 (age 24) Seoul, South Korea
Occupation	Actor, Singer, Dancer, Model
Years active	1998-present
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Website
http://www.jangkeunsuk.co.kr module =
Korean name
Hangul	장근석
Hanja	張根碩
Revised Romanization	Jang Geun-seok
McCune–Reischauer	Chang Kŭnsŏk

Jang Keun-suk (Hangul: 장근석; Hanja: 張根碩) was born on 4 August 1987 in in Danyang Country, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. He is a South Korean actor, singer and model. He is best known for playing the role of band leader Hwang Tae Kyung in the 2009 drama You're Beautiful, with Lee Hongki, Jung Yong Hwa, Park Shin-hye and Uee. As well as the role of Kang Mu Gyul in the 2010 romantic comedy series Mary Stayed Out All Night, with Moon Geun Young.

Biography[link]

Jang started working as a child model at the age of five after he was discovered by a talent agent. At that time, Keun-Suk's parents were selling their house and the agent, who was a prospective buyer, saw Keun-Suk. Seeing his potential, the agent advised Keun-Suk's parents to allow him to try a career in modeling.

Jang made his acting debut in the 1997 HBS sitcom Selling Happiness (Haengbokeul Pabmoda). He then continued to work in television as a child actor. In middle school, Keun-Suk heard the music of Japanese pop singer Ken Hirai. He was inspired enough by these bands to start learning Japanese by himself. In junior high school, Keun-Suk went to school in New Zealand to learn English and Japanese. Because of his studies in New Zealand, he can carry casual conversations in both languages.

Even though Keun-Suk wanted to continue his studies in New Zealand, a job offer brought him back to South Korea, a role in the popular MBC sitcom Nonstop 4. After his work in Nonstop 4, Keun-Suk fell into a self-perceived slump and didn't think his acting was good enough. He decided then to re-devote himself to becoming a true actor.

In 2005, Keun-Suk's portrayal of the president's son in the SBS drama Lovers in Prague became a hit and was well regarded by drama fans.

In 2006, Keun-Suk made the jump to the big screen in the Japanese horror film One Missed Call: Final where he played the role of a deaf boy. Using his past experience with the Japanese language, Keun-Suk was able to communicate with his Japanese co-stars with ease. He also learned sign language in preparation for his role.

Back on the small screen, he next played the role of Kim Eun-ho, Hwang Jin-yi's first love in the TV drama Hwang Jin-i. Keun-Suk's performance gained the attention of many female fans. He also starred in the KBS drama, Hong Gil Dong, as Prince Lee Changhwi.

In 2007, Keun-Suk was cast in the rock music-themed film The Happy Life. His portrayal of Hyeon-ju allowed Keun-Suk to show off his masculine charms, as well as display his skills as a singer. Jang was co-MC with Heechul of Super Junior on SBS's weekly live music show Inkigayo, from 25 February to 7 October 2007.

In 2008, Keun-Suk would go on to act in two more music-inspired titles with the feature film Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do and the hit MBC TV drama Beethoven Virus starring opposite Kim Myung Min.

Keun-Suk's next role in the 2009 thriller The Case of Itaewon Homicide was his first villain role. The film is based on the true story of a murder that occurred at a Burger King restaurant in Itaewon, South Korea. Keun-Suk portrayed the role of Pearson who was a disturbed young Korean-American accused of stabbing a student to death. Keun-Suk spoke his lines in English throughout the entire film, a job he did well, according to BeyondHollywood.com: "Jang Keun Suk performs very well as the sullen Pearson."^[1]

Film critics and moviegoers also praised Keun-Suk for his acting. A movie review posted on LondonKoreanLinks.com said: "The casting is cleverly done with Jang as the ‘innocent’ accused, his popularity allowing the audience to feel some empathy and warmth to an otherwise unattractive character. He does well in this role, a break from his normal cheerful persona and, combined with the fact he has to speak English through most of the film, it’s quite impressive. Its not perfect American accent of course, but it plays a vital part in itself."^[2]

In You're Beautiful, Keun-Suk played the role of Hwang Tae-Kyung, leader of pop band A.N.Jell, who falls in love with a fellow band member who is a female pretending to be a guy on behalf of her twin brother, played by Park Shin Hye. The show also starred Lee Hong Ki and Jung Yong Hwa as the band's drummer and guitarist, respectively.

Keun-Suk was also one of the actors who appeared in the photoshoot "Kolon Christmas Photo Shoot" in 2008, along with co-actors Joo Jin Mo, Song Il-gook, Ko Soo, and Park Jae-jung. He also was a host on Tracking Your X Boyfriend. He's also known for his outspoken personality and tectonic dance.

Although he sings for some of his dramas, he has not released any music of his own except for a few songs done for advertisements: "Black Engine" for Mens cosmetics and skin care, and "Touch Holic" and "Magic Drag" for Samsung's YP-M1 mp3 player from the YEPP line.

Keun-Suk did some advertisements in 2010–2011 such as Ole Beauty Candy, Zegda CF, Code Combines CF and Samsung Galaxy Player.^[3]

His first single as a singer, "Let Me Cry," was released by Pony Canyon in Japan on April 27, 2011. "Let Me Cry" debuted at number 1 on Japan's Oricon single charts, making him the first non-Japanese act to have the debut single to debut at number 1 on the charts.^[4]

In August 2011, Jang Keun Suk and Moon Geun Young went to Japan for their Mary Stayed Out All Night Tour. There were a total of 4 Mary Stayed Out All Night Fanmeetings in Japan, 2 Meetings in Tokyo and 2 meetings in Osaka. Their Fanmeeting is the largest FM to date which can accommodate in more than 60,000 people.

By the month-end of September 2011, Jang officially released his first Chinese album, titled The Lounge H Vol.1, in China and throughout Southeast Asia.^[5][6] Jang worked with friend and musician Big Brother (大兄弟/Jung Kurt) to create the duo in Team H. Big Brother took part in writing, producing, re-making songs, and even rapping. The Lounge H Vol.1 has 4 tracks with the leading song "Gotta Getcha." Jang has reportedly written the lyrics for this song himself. The track has a strong beat and powerful rap. The album also includes a music video for "Gotta Getcha" and special backstage clips.

Jang agreed to play the role of the pet character in the Korean movie adaptation of the Japanese drama Kimi wa Petto, based on the manga of the same name. You're My Pet was released in November 2011.

On January 18 of 2012, Oricon^[7] reported that Jang will release a new album Lounge H (The First Impression was later added to the title) in Japan as part of the two-member group Team H (the other member being DJ Big Brother). To be released on March 21 and only available in Japan, this album will have its own original style with brand new jacket photos and packaging. It was emphasized that this album is not Lounge H Vol.1, which Team H released the year before. The new Japanese album will have seven tracks of rock and electronic genre, including "Gotta Getcha."^[8]

On February 23 of 2012, HS Media (韩星经纪) revealed on their official Weibo that Team H had won its first awards^[9] with their debut EP Lounge H Vol. 1. At the 2012 IFPI Hong Kong Record Sales Awards, based on the highest album record sales, the album was to be awarded the Best Selling Album and the Best Korean Album. Since mid-October 2011, the album had been sold in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong with impressive sales results, breaking through platinum.

The TV melodrama Love Rain, starring Jang and Girls' Generation's Yoona and made by drama PD Yoon Seok Ho, is being aired currently in KBS2 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 hrs.^[10]

By the end of May 2012, Jang will release another Japanese album, now titled Just Crazy.^[11]

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

Film[link]

Discography[link]

Awards[link]

Endorsements[link]

• LeSportsac
• Coca Cola
• Daily Milk
• Hyundai
• Salim Food
• Shu Uemura
• Kellogs Cornflakes
• Ottogi Quick Meals
• Chic Choc Biscuit
• Motorola
• SAMSUNG Products YEPP YP-M1/ Toucholic/ Magic Drag (ft. SISTAR's Hyo Rin)
• TTL Phone call charges
• SK Telecom (with BoA )
• ETUDE House -Aqua Sherbet Summer Collection and Vitcara(with Ara)
• ETUDE House -BB JINJU Compact Powder and Etude VIP Girl (with Park Shin Hye)
• Garden 5 CF Mall – (with Park Shin Hye)
• Maxim Coffee- (with Kim So Eun)
• Maeil Caffe Latte
• Skool Looks
• MCM Collections
• Black ‘N Jean
• BSX Clothing
• EXR Clothing – (with Kim Ri Na )
• Jack & Jill environmental fashion
• Ole beauty Candy
• Zegda, China CF
• Code Combines CF
• Samsung Galaxy Player
• Suntory Seoul Makgeolli CF
• Natures Republic
• Tong Yi Orange Juice, China CF - (with Park Min Yong)
• Caffe Bene - (with Han Ye Seul)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Jang Keun-suk official homepage
• Jang Keun Suk official PrinceJKS homepage
• Jang Keun-suk official YouTube channel

This article contains Korean text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Hangul or Hanja.

Park Shin Hye (born on February 18, 1990; also written as Park Shin-Hye, Park Shin-hye, or Park Shinhye) is a South Korean actress, singer and promotional model.^[1] She debuted in the 2003 music video "Ggot" (Hangul: 꽃, flower). She is best known for the roles of "Go Mi Nam" in the television drama You're Beautiful and "Lee Gyu Won" in the 2011 drama Heartstrings.^[2][3] She attends Chung-Ang University.

Early life[link]

Park Shin Hye was born on February 18, 1990, in Gwangju, South Korea. Her family consists of her parents, an older brother and her. When she was in the 6th grade at Hak-Kang Elementary School in Gwangju, she auditioned for the lead role in the music video "Ggot - Flower" by "Dream Factory," pop singer Lee Seung-Hwan's music company. She passed the audition, joined the company, and began training as a singer there.

Career[link]

Park's fame came when she played the younger version of the character Han Jung-suh in the popular Korean drama Stairway to Heaven. She also starred in a drama series called Tree of Heaven which aired on SBS, starring her former co-star in Stairway to Heaven, Lee Wan.^[1] The show had decent ratings, and the reviews and criticism were mixed, but mostly positive. Many critics keyed in on her portrayal of the character Hana's pain of loving her step brother Yoon-suh (Lee Wan) as brilliantly done. It should also be noted that due to the age difference between her and Wan, romantic scenes such as kissing on the lips could not occur, where had it been an older actress, such scenes may have occurred. Tree of Heaven started with borderline mediocre ratings, as do many new Korean dramas, but went on to finish very respectably, and gained a fan base in Korea, which further helped Park's credibility and young career in acting. Since then, Park has done many commercials (CF) and modeled for a number of Asian companies.

Through her roles and their requirements, Park has displayed an instinctive talent for dancing and martial arts. She has also released a digital single, "Prayer", a song she sang in the drama Tree of Heaven. However, the track was not released in the official OST.

Park made her big screen debut in the movie Evil Twin, a summer horror flick where she had 2 roles: one as the main character, and the other as the ghost of the main character's sister, who haunts the other sister after her death. Park was extremely happy to act in this movie, because she had always wanted to act in a period setting drama or movie.

Park starred as one of the four main characters in Goong S, a spin off (not the sequel) to the wildly successful Goong. The series did not match the success of its original, and received borderline ratings. However, the drama was the most re-watched and replayed series in the first half of 2007, gaining fame after the first run. Park later gained more popularity through idol drama series You're Beautiful. Her 2011 drama Heartstrings began airing on June 29, 2011. Jung Yong Hwa, a co-star from You're Beautiful, played the male lead opposite her.

Recently, Park was featured in the first three episodes of the show "Music and Lyrics" with Yoon Gun (윤건) of Korean R&B duo Brown Eyes (브라운아이즈). ‘Music and Lyrics’ is a reality/romance show that collaborates a top actress and an amazing songwriter to write a one-of-a-kind song in 30 days.^[4] Their efforts produced the song "I Think of You". The release date is yet to be revealed.

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

Films[link]

MCings[link]

• 2007-5-27 - 2008-7-13 MBC Fantastic Partner
• 2009-12-16 Melon Music Awards: Co-host with Jang Keun Suk
• 2009-12-29 SBS Gayo Daejun: Co-host with Jung Yong Hwa and Kim Hee Chul
• 2011-10-03 Hallyu Dream Concert: Co-host with 2PM's Taecyeon and Shinee's Minho
• 2011-11-24 Melon Music Awards: Co-host with Super Junior's LeeTeuk and Beast's Yoon Doo Jun

Music Videos Appearances[link]

Awards[link]