The Multiple Facets of a History Maker

The Multiple Facets of a History Maker

On December 19, 2012, Park Geun-Hye made history. Madam Park became the first female president as well as the first child of a former president to be elected in South Korea. Madam Park is the first woman to lead a country where Parliament, the cabinet and corporate boardrooms are predominantly male and the gender income gap is the widest among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. She emerged as the president despite being in a heavily male-dominated community and country.

From before she was elected in to the news that exploded after she was elected, the media approached Park Geun-Hye’s presidency from several different points of view.

Milestone for Women in Positions of Power

Even before she was elected, there was constant discussion on what Park’s potential win would mean for women in South Korea. Multiple sources discussed Park’s role in transforming women in power. Park Geun-Hye used her gender as a pitch for her campaign. The Globe and Mail author MacKinnon mentions the three words that most often appeared in her advertisements were “ready female president.” The various sources acknowledge the impact that Park’s potential win could have on gender in the country and in the globe. The Washington Post claims that if Park wins, it would “represent a major symbolic breakthrough in a region underpinned by Confucianism, a Chinese-born philosophy that says women should be obedient to their husbands.” Similarly, The Globe and Mail in Canada declared, “Should she win, Ms. Park will blaze a new trail for women in a deeply patriarchal country” (MacKinnon). Park could help “normalize the idea of women holding positions of power.” Beyond the government, The Washington Post declared that this could open opportunities for women even in the corporate world or at universities. The International Tribune asserts the impact because of the incidence of gender inequality in Korea by stressing the facts. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, South Korea ranks 108 among 135 countries in terms of gender inequality (Choe).  

Exceeding a transformation on solely a national level, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and Africa wished that Madam Park’s election “mark another milestone for women leadership in the world.”  The Korea Herald lists the other female leaders around the world. They include German chancellor Angela Merkel, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (Lee). In the All Africa Newspapers (Monrovia), the writer discusses President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s message of congratulations to Madam Park Geun-Hye as the first female president of the Republic of South Korea. Sirleaf recalled her moment of victory as the first elected female President of Liberia and Africa. President Sirleaf contended, “I appreciate the remarkable opportunity as well as the enormous challenge that now confront you.” She hoped that Park could serve as a “shining inspiration” to women and girls around the world and encourage them to “work towards making meaningful contributions to the progress of their societies.” 

The Korea Times discusses gender equality from a different approach. It is curious to examine the new questions that arise with the election of a female president.  The Korea Times chose to address one query that arose which was how to address the new president. This dialogue does not often occur for it is usually clear how to address a superior. People debated whether they should address Park as ‘Madam’ or ‘Ms.”.  The Korea Times consulted with scholars, ambassadors, and businesspeople. The unanimous decision: ‘Madam’ is most appropriate. Jung at The Korea Times chose to acknowledge the fact that she is the head of state at age of 61 and unmarried.  Kathleen Butterly Nigro, a gender studies professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis disclosed, “Madam is an honorary title… when Madam is used, the prestige of the position is what gets highlighted rather than an individual's personal traits.” The Korea Times builds credibility through its use of references and links to other sources to stress the power of a title. According to Collins COBUILD Dictionary, “Madam is a very formal and polite way of addressing a woman… who is of a superior rank.” In addition, it can imply that the woman is “powerful, self-possessed, and self-determined in her own right.”  

Mother of the Country

Park Geun-Hye is seen as a symbol of a girl who grew up before the nation's eyes to become a national mother figure. While The Daily Telegraph seems to find the appeal in Park as a mother figure, The International Herald Tribune seems much more cynical in her view of Park. The Daily Telegraph simply explains how the approach of the President to gaining the hearts of the people is to call them her family.

The article quotes Park, “I have no family to take care of and no children to pass wealth to. You, the people, are my family and your happiness is the reason that I stay in politics.” The campaign appeals to the emotional senses of Koreans. She is reaching out, trying to capture the hearts of the people, drawing in those who value family. South Korea is a country that upholds strong family standards and values. Damien McElroy, The Daily Telegraph author in London, construes the launch of Park’s presidential bid as a paternalistic “National Happiness Campaign.” The article seems to be geared towards the fans of Park as McElroy. The author makes sure to mention that Park reassured her voters that although her she launched a specific campaign, democratic values were the principle of her politics. This was also mentioned to draw in people who may not agree with her approach to campaigning, but agree with her party and the policies that correspond to it.

The International Herald Tribune author Suki Kim describes how Madame Park looks “eerily reminiscent” of her mother, whom South Korean history books have cast as the nation's “ultimate first lady - a martyr.” This causes the readers to think about how Park not only reflects her father, but also mirrors the image of her mother. Adversely, Suki Kim at The International Herald Tribune writes in a negative tone. She downplays Park’s campaign by saying that Madam Park “borrowed a page from that script.” Kim insults the authenticity of Park and how much she really feels what she is campaigning.

Legacy as Former Dictator’s Daughter

Controversy and discussion on now-President Park stretches beyond the lengths of gender issues. Several news sites focus on gender but furthermore, make a turn and zoom onto Park’s past and her “legacy.” This topic was widely debated during the race.

The Globe and Mail author Mark MacKinnon writes, “Gender issues are on the sidelines of this race.” He refers to the election as a “referendum on the legacy” of Park Chung-Hee, Park’s father.  Much of her core support derived from fond memories of the rule of her father. Her father, Park Chung-Hee, led South Korea for 18 years before he was assassinated.

The Globe and Mail mentions that a main factor in the election was the candidate approach on how to fix the economic situation. Suki Kim in The International Herald Tribune speaks for South Koreans and affirms, Park’s “first duty is to rescue their slowing economy.” Because of the precedence of her father, his legacy was crucial during the election. The way in which her father renewed and completely rejuvenated South Korea’s economy in the past was an encouraging concept for the people to remember with Park Geun-Hye.

Choe Sang-Hun writes in The International Herald Tribune about the history of Park Chung-Hee. Although he is regarded as a “repressive autocrat,” he is also considered the “genius” who helped transform South Korea from an “economic backwater into one of the most affluent places on Earth.”  The article is centered around the impressive accomplishments of Park Chung-Hee and provides facts supporting the argument. Under his leadership, South Korea turned from a country where per capita income was just $100 a year into what is now a global economic powerhouse whose smartphones, cars and ships are exported around the world. The Daily Telegraph praises Park’s father as well in the declaration that he transformed Korea’s economy into the fourth largest in Asia.  

Mark MacKinnon reveals the emotions and perspectives of Park’s older, more loyal following. He describes the story of Lee Yeon-Hee, a 65-year old grandmother. She reveals” When I was young, I had nothing to eat and couldn’t go to school. Park Chung-Hee gave us our daily meal… Park Geun-Hye is his daughter. She has the leadership skills to help South Korea recover from the economic situation we're facing.”  The Globe and Mail author conveys Park in the way that he sees those who support Park Geun-Hye.  He talks of her “legacy” and her “genius” of a father. He also states that Park is seen as having inherited her fathers “legendary toughness.”  While The Globe and Mail author continues to offer support for Park, the International Herald Tribune opens up a fresher, surprising viewpoint from the older generation. Her own parents supported Park’s election but for different reasons. Kim declares, they “expressed the collective sentiment of the 50-60 generation when they explained to me why: they feel sorry for her and indebted to her, because she has been all alone.” She brings a new angle by introducing a motive that is probably not spoken out loud very often: pity.

Moreover, Suki Kim herself takes yet another position by offering her own opinion. She refers to Park Geun-Hye as a “modern-day princess,” but she does not fail to inform readers that although her father elevated South Korea's economy, he is not innocent. Kim is reluctant in hopping on the bandwagon of trusting in Park’s “legacy.” She does not use Park’s father’s successes as justification for the horrors he committed. She reminds the readers that he was an oppressor who tortured dissidents and changed the constitution to remain in power.

Choe Sang-Hun details Park Geun-Hye’s struggle. Unlike her father, who had kept South Korea orderly, Madam Park must fight to win back younger and liberal South Koreans who “have no fear of speaking out against her.” Several comments were made in the blogosphere against her including both her past and the present. They openly called her election a “return to the past” and argued that many of the country’s current problems were a direct influence of her father. In addition, she was accused of “glorifying his dictatorship.”  Contrasting The Daily Telegraph, in the International Herald Tribune, the author discloses how Park named Queen Elizabeth I as her role model and, as a result,  many “[berated] her sense of entitlement.” In The Daily Telegraph from London, the author also mentions Queen Elizabeth I as her role model, but does not mention anything against this declaration.

Tension between the Koreas

The story of Park Geun-Hye continues to the policies she will implement with key issues. An issue that will follow her through her presidency and has currently appeared in several places is the tension with North Korea. The International Herald Tribune contains various articles on Park Geun-Hye and how she will react to North Korea. In Choe Sang-Hun’s article, Jo Dong-ho, a professor at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul, declared, “[Park Geun-Hye] was born to be a conservative and security-minded… When she first heard of her father's assassination… the first thing she did was to ask whether everything was all right along the border with North Korea.” In addition, Choe reveals that there is an existing family rivalry that may worsen relations between the Koreas. Under Park Chung-Hee, her father, a staunchly anti-Communist conservative mainstream took root in South Korea. The current North Korean leader is Kim Jong-un, the grandson of the North Korean founder, who sent 31 commandos in 1968 in a failed attempt to attack the Blue House and kill Ms. Park’s father.

Madam Park was elected right around the same time that North Korea performed its third nuclear testing. Choe offers his opinion on Park’s next move. The International Herald Tribune author writes, “Whatever move she makes, the stakes will be high.” He testifies that there is a “growing frustration over decades of U.S.-led efforts to end North Korea's nuclear weapons development,” and many are calling for a more active role by South Korea. This is directed towards the Korean citizens who are curious to know what the best move is for Park. Higher emphasis is placed on the impact of her presidency in the relations. It will help “set the pace and tone of the policies of other regional powers.” Mr. Bong states, “Everyone is watching her, including North Korea.” Other International Herald Tribune writer, Shin Gi-Wook, interprets what Americans are considering in this situation. The critical questions are whether Park Geun-Hye will be “both a strong leader and a good partner in dealing with the increasing North Korean threat.” Shin declares that Park comes “with some weighty baggage.” It is a very casual, informal way of discussing the president’s position in the conflict, but places a stronger emphasis on her history. However, Shin compensates for his “weighty baggage statement” by stating, “But like other daughters of charismatic Asian leaders, such as Indira Gandhi and Megawati Sukarnoputri, Park is formidable in her own right. She rescued her party twice from the brink of collapse, earning her a reputation as the ‘queen of elections.’”

            It is unclear what will happen with the North Korean conflict, and how South Koreans and the world will react to Madam President Park Geun-Hye’s decisions. The stakes are high and there really is no definite direction she is currently heading in. There are strong tensions, and whatever decision she makes could be either monumental or detrimental. 

WORKS CITED

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Tribune 26 Feb. 2013. LexisNexis. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

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2012. LexisNexis. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

Jung, Min-ho. "'Madam is More Appropriate'." Korea Times 6 Jan. 2013. LexisNexis. 27 Feb.

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Kim, Suki. "South Korea's National Mother Figure." The International Herald Tribune 25 Feb.

2013: 8. LexisNexis. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

Lee, Joo-Hee. "Korea Gets First Female President." The Korea Herald 20 Dec. 2012. LexisNexis.

27 Feb. 2013.

MacKinnon, Mark. "Dictator's daughter looks to make history." The Globe and Mail

(Canada) 19 Dec. 2012. LexisNexis. 27 Feb. 2013.

McElroy, Damien. "Assassinated Dictator's Daughter Becomes First Female President of South

Korea." The Daily Telegraph (London) 20 Dec. 2012, 2 ed. LexisNexis. 27 Feb. 2013.

"Ms. Park's Role in Korea's Women's rights Still Disputed." Korea Times 19 Dec.

2012. LexisNexis. 27 Feb. 2013.

Shin, Gi-Wook, and David Straub. "A Tough Woman in a Tough Job." The International Herald

Tribune. 21 Dec. 2012.LexisNexis. 27 Feb. 2013.