Chapter Twelve
232
Conclusion: A New Era? Park Geun-Hye, Kim Jong-Un,
and the Future of the SPT
In December 2012, South Korea made international headlines by electing
its first female president, Park Geun-Hye. As the daughter of Park Chung-
Hee, Ms. Park had faced some skepticism from those who saw her father’s
rule as authoritarian, while gaining votes from those who remembered it
fondly for its rapid economic growth. Park’s opponent at the time, Moon
Jae-In, was popular with younger voters and had openly campaigned with
promises of a return to some version of the “sunshine policy.” Park,
meanwhile, won with the support of voters over 50, a group which, on the
one hand, may have more familial ties to the North and more memories or
stories about a time before the War, but, on the other hand, may also have
more negative memories associated with the War and its aftermath in
recent decades.^39 Park herself had promised a more balanced approach
than either of her last two predecessors, which she calls “trustpolitik.”
According to The Economist, “In principle, her approach consists of
refusing to reward provocative behaviour (give us more money and we
will refrain from attacking you/letting off missiles/closing Kaesong), while
remaining open to engagement once North Korea demonstrates
sincerity.”^40 Yet Park also made it clear that she would respond in-kind if
the North were to violently attack, which makes her policy akin to the
offspring of a dove and a hawk.
Likewise, in a new year’s speech on January 1, 2012, Kim Jong-Un
had asked for a détente, with a return to the kind of relationship which had
existed during Kim Dae-Jung’s era.^41 Yet, just before Park’s inauguration,
Kim Jong-Un tested another nuclear device and threatened war, and
attempted to frighten off foreign diplomats in the country. Later in the
year, workers from South Korea were prevented from entering the
Kaesong industrial complex, although since then work has resumed and
talks are underway to improve the situation there.^42 Additionally, cyber-
attacks, presumed to be from the North, interfered with several major
networks in the South. Finally, North Korea successfully launched a
satellite, outshining efforts by the South to enter the modern-day space
(^39) D.T., “South Korea’s Presidential Election: A Homecoming.”; “Parallel
Worlds.”
(^40) “South Korea and the United States: Park’s Progress.”
(^41) “South Korea’s New President: Plenty on her Plate.”
(^42) Chung, “Lawmakers Visit Gaesong Complex.”