Park Jie-won
| Park Jie-won | |
|---|---|
| 박지원 | |
Park in 2017
| |
| Director of the National Intelligence Service | |
| In office 29 July 2020 – 11 May 2022 | |
| President | Moon Jae-in |
| Preceded by | Suh Hoon |
| Succeeded by | Kim Kyou-hyun |
| Floor Leader of the People's Party | |
| In office 30 May 2016 – 29 December 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Succeeded by | Joo Syung-yong |
| Leader of the People's Party | |
| In office 15 January 2017 – 10 May 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Kim Dong-cheol (Interim) |
| Succeeded by | Joo Seung-yong (Acting) |
| In office 29 June 2016 – 5 December 2016 (Interim) | |
| Preceded by | Ahn Cheol-soo Chun Jung-bae |
| Succeeded by | Kim Dong-cheol (Interim) |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Yoon Jae-kab |
| Constituency | Haenam-Wando-Jindo |
| In office 30 May 2008 – 29 May 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Lee Sang-yeol |
| Succeeded by | Kim Won-i |
| Constituency | Mokpo |
| In office 30 May 1992 – 30 August 1995 | |
| Constituency | Proportional Representation |
| Chief Presidential Secretary | |
| In office 15 April 2002 – 24 February 2003 | |
| President | Kim Dae-jung |
| Preceded by | Jeon Yun-churl |
| Succeeded by | Moon Hee-sang |
| Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism | |
| In office 23 May 1999 – 19 September 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Shin Nak-gyun |
| Succeeded by | Kim Han-gil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 June 1942 Jindo, Zenranan Province, Korea, Empire of Japan |
| Party | Democratic Party of Korea (2022- ) |
| Other political affiliations |
Minsaeng Party (2020) Democracy and Peace (2018–2019) People's (2016–2018) Independent (2016) NPAD (2014–2016) |
| Alma mater | Dankook University |
| Website | www.jwp615.com |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 박지원 |
| Hanja | 朴智源 |
| RR | Bak Jiwon |
| MR | Pak Chiwŏn |
Park Jie-won (Korean: 박지원; 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 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 December 2003, he was sentenced to twelve years in prison for his role in the Cash-for-summit scandal.[10] Park was temporarily released for medical treatment in November 2006,[11] and was released in February 2007. He was later pardoned in December 2007,[12] which enabled him to run for a legislative election in April 2008. He was defeated in the 2020 election and lost his seat.[13]
Director of the National Intelligence Service
On 3 July 2020, Park was nominated the Director of the National Intelligence Service.[14] He was finally appointed to the position on 28 July.[15] 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.[16] He was accused of involvement in the coverup of the 2020 murder of a South Korean fisheries official by North Korean soldiers near the Northern Limit Line, but was acquitted in 2025.[17]
Election results
| Year | Elections | Constituency | Political party | Votes (%) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 14th National Assembly General Election | National (21st) | Democratic | 6,004,578 (29.17%) | Elected |
| 1996 | 15th National Assembly General Election | Bucheon Sosa (Gyeonggi) | NCNP | 31,786 (37.25%) | Defeated |
| 2008 | 18th National Assembly General Election | Mokpo (South Jeolla) | Independent | 45,415 (53.59%) | Won |
| 2012 | 19th National Assembly General Election | Mokpo (South Jeolla) | DUP | 63,705 (71.17%) | Won |
| 2016 | 20th National Assembly General Election | Mokpo (South Jeolla) | People's | 58,630 (56.38%) | Won |
| 2020 | 21st National Assembly General Election | Mokpo (South Jeolla) | Minsaeng | 47,528 (37.34%) | Defeated |
| 2024 | 22nd National Assembly General Election | Haenam-Wando-Jindo (South Jeolla) | Democratic | 78,324 (92.35%) | Won |
See also
- Cash-for-summit scandal
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 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.
- Back to citation "World Briefing Asia: South Korea, Summit Meeting Charges". New York Times. 26 June 2003. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- Back to citation 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.
- Back to citation 국민의당 통합 반대파, 신당 당명 '민주평화당'…박지원 "미래로 간다".
- Back to citation 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.
- Back to citation 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.
- Back to citation "List of Former Presidents". Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- Back to citation "List of Former Presidents". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- Back to citation "Park Jie-won gets leave from jail for treatment". Korea JoongAng Daily. 6 November 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- Back to citation "Former S. Korean Presidential Aide Sentenced to Prison for Role in Financial Scandal - 2003-12-12". Voice of America. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- Back to citation "Park Jie-won gets leave from jail for treatment". koreajoongangdaily. 2006-11-06. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- Back to citation "Close aide to Roh among 75 people to get clemency". koreajoongangdaily. 2007-12-31. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- Back to citation Veteran politicians fail to survive general election The Korea Times
- Back to citation [속보] 국정원장 박지원·안보실장 서훈·통일장관 이인영 내정. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- Back to citation 문대통령, 박지원 국정원장 임명…내일부터 임기(종합). 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- Back to citation NIS chief vows never to meddle in domestic politics Yonhap News Agency
- Back to citation "(LEAD) Ex-top security officials acquitted over alleged cover-up of 2020 border killing by N. Korea". Yonhap. 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.