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Yuk Yeong-su

Yuk Yeong-su, wife of Korean president Park Chung Hee, served as First Lady of the Republic of Korea from 1963 to 1974.

Biography

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Yuk Yeong-su (1925-1974), wife of Korean president Park Chung Hee (1917-1979), served as First Lady of the Republic of Korea from 1963 to 1974. Yuk was also mother of 11th president Park Geun Hye (in office 2013 - present).

Yuk was raised in an affluent landowning family in Chungcheong Province during the colonial period. She received a modern education at Paehwa Girls High School in Seoul, and after graduation was briefly employed as an instructor in home economics. She married Park in 1950 during the Korean War. Together the couple had three children, in addition to Park’s daughter from his first marriage.

Yuk became the first lady in 1963 when Park, who had led the May 16 Coup in 1961, was elected president. A gracious and beloved public figure, she took on a number of social causes, most notably support for military families, children’s recreation, professional training for unemployed youth, and Hansen’s disease patients. Although these may now be considered standard projects, Yuk was at the forefront of raising the profile of the first lady’s office in Korea. Photographs of her elegantly clad in Korean national dress, engaged in work or with her family, promoted her popularity and extended to soften Park’s image as well.

Yuk was killed on August 15, 1974, the unintended victim of an assassination plot against her husband. On stage while Park delivered a speech commemorating the anniversary of Korean independence, Yuk was caught in the crossfire of bullets. Park famously resumed the address after his wife was taken to the hospital, where she died later that day. The assassin, Mun Se-gwang, was a 23-year old Korean-Japanese who was determined to be acting on the order of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (K. Chongryeon, J. Sōren). Yuk’s death generated strong anti-North Korean sentiment, and placed a strain on Korea-Japan relations.

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