Key milestones in the life of ousted President Park Geun-hye

(Baonghean.vn) - On March 10, the Constitutional Court of South Korea announced the removal of Ms. Park from the position of President due to her involvement in a corruption scandal and abuse of power. Ms. Park Geun-hye became the first leader elected in the democratic era to be forced to leave office before the end of her term.

Ms. Park Geun-hye was born on February 2, 1952 in Daegu (South Korea). She is the first child of former South Korean President Park Chung-hee and Ms. Yuk Young-soo. She has two younger siblings, Park Ji-man and Park Seoyeong.

Ms. Park poses with her parents and two siblings in a family photo.

At 60, Park Geun-hye is single and has no children. Growing up, she entered Cheongwadae Palace when her father became president. She graduated from Sogang University's electrical engineering department in 1974 and the University of Grenoble (France).

At the time, her education was a remarkable achievement. As the daughter of former President Park Chung-hee, Park Geun-hye made significant political strides and became the first female president in South Korean history.

Mrs. Park when she was young.

1974: Park Geun-hye's mother died in an assassination attempt whose main target was her father, President Park Chung-hee. After her mother's death, Park became like a first lady alongside her father.

1979:President Park Chung-hee was assassinated.

1998:Ms Park returned to politics after years in hiding, becoming a lawmaker with a pledge to lead South Korea out of the Asian financial crisis.

2004:Ms. Park became the leader of the Conservative Party in South Korea.

Park Geun-hye became the first female president of South Korea on February 25, 2013.

2006:An assassin slashed Park's cheek with a knife during an election rally.

2012: Ms. Park won the Conservative Party's primary election and became the presidential candidate, then defeated her opponent, liberal candidate Moon Jae In.

February 25, 2013: Ms. Park was sworn in as South Korea's first female president, pledging to usher in a new era of promise for the country.

In 2014, she suffered what could be considered her first major shock as President when she was criticized for being negligent in the Sewol ferry sinking.

April 16, 2014:The Sewol ferry sinking killed 304 people, most of them students. In this incident, the Korean public condemned Ms. Park's government for not responding quickly and promptly.

October 25, 2016: Ms. Park apologized for the first time for allowing her close friend Choi Soon-sil to access the content of drafts of her speeches during her first months in power.

Ms. Choi Soon-sil surrounded by reporters when arriving at the prosecutor's office. Photo: Reuters.

October 31, 2016Prosecutors arrested Ms. Choi on suspicion of exerting improper influence on major state affairs.

November 4, 2016:Ms. Park appeared on television for the second time to apologize to the people, saying she would take responsibility if she was found guilty.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye bowed to apologize to the people on television. Photo: Yonhap.

November 20, 2016Prosecutors charged Ms. Choi with abuse of power and intentional fraud.

November 29, 2016:In her third televised apology, Ms. Park asked the National Assembly to decide when and how she would leave power.

December 9, 2016:The South Korean National Assembly voted to impeach Ms. Park. She was temporarily stripped of all powers while waiting for the Constitutional Court to rule on the National Assembly's impeachment. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn became acting President of South Korea during this time.

January 1, 2017: Ms. Park claims she did nothing wrong, saying the charges against her are “fabricated and false.”

February 17, 2017:Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee was arrested for his alleged involvement in a scandal involving President Park.

February 28, 2017:Special prosecutors have charged Mr. Lee and other Samsung Group executives with bribery and embezzlement.

March 6, 2017:The special prosecutor claimed that Ms. Park colluded with Ms. Choi to receive bribes from Samsung Group, thereby opening up the possibility that she will be prosecuted if she is formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court.

March 9, 2017:Mr. Lee’s trial began with charges of bribery and embezzlement, and he was accused of pledging to pay Ms. Choi 43 billion won ($37.24 million) in “kickbacks.”

Protesters in South Korea after Park Heun-hye was impeached. Photo: AP.

March 10, 2017:The Constitutional Court upheld the National Assembly's decision to convict Ms. Park and ruled to force her to leave office./.

Kim Ngoc

(Synthetic)