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This article is about Park Jie-won (born 1942). For other uses, see Bak Jiwon.
In this Korean name, the family name is Park.

Park Jie-won (Korean: 박지원; Hanja: 朴智源; born 5 June 1942) is a South Korean politician[1] who served as Director of the National Intelligence Service. He was the chief presidential secretary to President Kim Dae-jung,[2] and served as the Minister of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and coined the term "Esports"[3] during his administration. On 9 April 2008, he was elected as a member of 18th National Assembly of South Korea for Mokpo as an independent. After being elected, he returned to the Democratic party. In May 2012, he became the floor leader for the Democratic United Party.[1]

In 2018, he declared that he would leave People's Party and joined to the Party for Democracy and Peace.[4]

Early life and education

Park Jie-won attended Moontae High School in Mokpo and graduated in 1960. Park studied business in Dankook University and graduated in 1969. Park joined Lucky Goldstar (now LG) in 1970.[5]

Life in the United States

Park Jie-won immigrated to the United States in 1972,[6] and became popular among the expat Korean community. He was elected to become the 16th President of the Korean American Association of Greater New York[7] and subsequently became the 4th President of the Federation of Korean Associations, USA.[8]

Scandal

Park Jie-won was charged with abusing his power and violating domestic laws on foreign exchange trade and inter-Korean cooperation affairs while orchestrating covert money transfers by Hyundai to North Korea. He played a pivotal role in arranging the first Inter-Korean summit between South and North Korean leader in June 2000. Hyundai transferred $500 million to the North just months before the summit, triggering criticism that S.Korean Government paid for the summit. Hyundai claimed the money was a payment for exclusive business rights in electric power facilities, communication lines, an industrial park, cross-border roads and railway lines in North Korea.[9] In May 2006, he was sentenced to three years in prison. Park was released in February 2007, and subsequently pardoned in December 2007,[10] which enabled him to run for a legislative election in April 2008. He was defeated in the 2020 election and lost his seat.[11]

Director of the National Intelligence Service

On 3 July 2020, Park was nominated the Director of the National Intelligence Service.[12] He was finally appointed to the position on 28 July.[13] In December 2020, the Moon administration subsequently passed a reform bill to remove the NIS's involvement in domestic intelligence and activities and transferring of such powers to the National Police Agency. Park, on behalf of the NIS, proclaimed that the agency would never meddle in domestic politics again.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Park Dae-ro (박대로) (14 May 2012). '돌아온' 민주당 원내대표 박지원, 권한만큼 책임도 커졌다 [Park Jie-won returned as the floor leader of DUP with more responsibilities.]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  2. ^ "World Briefing Asia: South Korea, Summit Meeting Charges". New York Times. 26 June 2003. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  3. ^ Jin, Dal-yong (19 June 2020). "Historiography of Korean Esports: Perspectives on Spectatorship". International Journal of Communication. 14: 19. ISSN 1932-8036. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  4. ^ "국민의당 통합 반대파, 신당 당명 '민주평화당'…박지원 "미래로 간다"".
  5. ^ Kim Dahng (김당) (4 April 2004). '피고인' 박지원의 의안(義眼)과 눈물 [Defendant Park Jie-won's Artificial Eye and Tears]. OhMyNews (in Korean). Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  6. ^ Kim Dahng (김당) (4 April 2004). '피고인' 박지원의 의안(義眼)과 눈물 [Defendant Park Jie-won's Artificial Eye and Tear]. OhMyNews (in Korean). Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  7. ^ "List of Former Presidents". Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  8. ^ "List of Former Presidents". Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Park Jie-won gets leave from jail for treatment". Korea JoongAng Daily. 6 November 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  10. ^ Chang Min-soo (장민수) (30 December 2007). 노 대통령, 내일 60여 명 사면 단행 [President Roh pardoned 60 people]. YTN (in Korean). Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  11. ^ Veteran politicians fail to survive general election The Korea Times
  12. ^ "[속보] 국정원장 박지원·안보실장 서훈·통일장관 이인영 내정". 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  13. ^ "문대통령, 박지원 국정원장 임명…내일부터 임기(종합)". 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  14. ^ NIS chief vows never to meddle in domestic politics Yonhap News
Political offices
Preceded by
Shin Nak-gyun
 Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
1999–2000 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Jeon Yun-churl
 Chief Presidential Secretary
2002–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of the National Intelligence Service
2020–present 		Incumbent
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Jie-won