Lawmakers and supporters of Park Geun-hye (L) clap their hands at the main office of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) in Seoul June 11, 2007. [Photo/Agencies]

In her early presidency, Park, 65, looked an unassailable icon among conservative voters as she reminded them of her father Park Chung-hee, an assassinated military strongman who was worshipped by right-leaning voters as a leader who sped up industrialization.

Park was born in 1952 as the first child of Park Chung-hee. In 1963, the 11-year-old Park moved into Chong Wa Dae with her father. She served as the "first lady" for five years after her mother was killed in a 1974 assassination attempt on elder Park. She was forced to leave the presidential office after her father was assassinated in 1979.