Park Chung-hee

Park Chung-hee was a South Korean military general and political leader who ruled from 1961 until his assassination in 1979. He came to power through a coup d'état and implemented significant economic reforms, known as the "miracle on the Han River," which transformed South Korea from a war-torn nation into a thriving industrial economy. However, his regime was marked by authoritarianism, political repression, and human rights abuses. Despite mixed legacies, he remains a controversial figure, seen by some as a strong leader who fostered rapid development and by others as an oppressor of democracy.