On December 19, 2012, South Koreans elected Ms. Park Geun-hye as its first female President. The 60-year old is the daughter of longest-ruling former dictator Park Chung-hee who was assassinated in 1979. Ms. Park received 51.6 percent of the votes casted during the election. Since the adoption of the new constitution in 1987, she is the only President to receive a clear majority of the vote. Election results indicate that she received more support from the older generation, 50 years or more.
Her victory comes in a crucial time for South Korea. North Korea successfully launched a communication satellite into the orbit recently. Many Western countries expect that to be a test of a long-range missile than a communication satellite. Such missile could be used to launch long-range nuclear weapon. The outgoing South Korean President Lee had a very hardline policy with the North Korea and the new leader indicated that she expect to build a relationship with the North. She is promising aid and investment to North Korea.
Domestically, South Korea faces a deepening inequality in its wealth distribution. Her father has been credited for bringing the South Korea out of disastrous Korean War and building a prosperous middle class.