ABSTRACT
As South Korea’s first female President, Park Geun-hye was confronted by a number of critical challenges after assuming office in February 2013. Operating in a domestic political environment that is both fractious and chauvinistic, and facing a challenge from the country’s northern neighbour, under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, a youthful, bellicose and seemingly erratic leader, Park has had to show resolve and determination in managing her country’s foreign policy and particularly relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea). That she has been able to do this is perhaps not entirely surprising. As the daughter of South Korea’s former authoritarian leader, Park Chung-hee, who dominated the politics of the Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea) from the early 1960s when he seized power in a military coup, until his assassination in 1979, Park has lived a life steeped in political history and the challenges of executive office. Having grown up in the Blue House, the country’s presidential residence, Park can claim to have witnessed major political change and to have had the opportunity to acquire first-hand political experience from an early age.
