Park Geun-hey is South Korea’s first female president

The new president urged North Korea to drop its nuclear programe all together during her inaugural speech.

13:43 26 February 2013

South Korea, supposedly one of the countries which has high levels of gender inequality, made history when they elected Park Geun-hey; their first female president.

Ms Park, who is the daughter of a former president, Park Chung-lee, was sworn in on Monday, February 25th. 

 

The new president urged North Korea to drop its nuclear programme all together. In her speech she said, as reported by The Guardian: "North Korea's recent nuclear test is a challenge to the survival and future of the Korean people. Make no mistake, the biggest victim will be none other than North Korea itself."

 

“I will not tolerate any action that threatens the lives of our people and the security of our nation," she added. "I urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions without delay and embark on the path to peace and shared development."

 

Ms Park, who represents the conservative Saunuri party, promised to bring about “economic democratisation” and to create jobs to build a better economy for South Korea. 

 

Ms Park is no stranger to politics. Being the daughter of a former president who ruled South Korea for almost two decades, she was South Korea’s first lady at the age of 22 when her mother was killed in 1974.