Park Chung-hee was a South Korean military general and politician who served as the President of South Korea from 1963 until his assassination in 1979. He came to power through a military coup and implemented a series of economic reforms that transformed South Korea into a rapidly industrializing nation. His leadership is often credited with laying the groundwork for the country's modern economy. During his presidency, Park emphasized strong government control and economic development, often at the expense of political freedoms. His administration faced criticism for human rights abuses and suppression of dissent. Despite this, his policies significantly improved South Korea's infrastructure and global economic standing.