Korean Dictionary
How to say "Park Chung-hee" in Korean
“Park Chung-hee” in Korean is 박정희 (pronounced "bak jeonghui").
박정희
bak jeonghui
Usage & Context
Park Chung-hee was South Korea's president from 1963 to 1979. He is credited with leading Korea's rapid industrialization and economic miracle. However, his authoritarian rule and human rights abuses remain deeply controversial.
Example Sentence
박정희는 한국 경제 발전을 이끈 논란의 여지가 있는 대통령이에요.
Park Chung-hee is a controversial president who led Korea's economic development.
How to use 박정희 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Park Chung-hee” is 박정희, romanized as bak jeonghui.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 박정희.
Pronunciation Guide
Say '박정희' as 'bahk-jeong-hee'. '박' (bak) sounds like 'bahk' as in 'bark' without the 'r'. '정' (jeong) is like 'jung' in 'jungle'. '희' (hui) is often pronounced as 'hee' like 'he' in 'he-he', with a soft 'h' sound. The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Discussing Korea's economic development.
박정희 대통령 시대에 한국 경제가 급성장했어요.
The Korean economy grew rapidly during President Park Chung-hee's era.
Engaging in a historical discussion.
박정희 전 대통령에 대한 평가는 여전히 엇갈려요.
Opinions on former President Park Chung-hee are still divided.
Learning about rural development policies.
박정희 대통령은 새마을 운동을 추진했어요.
President Park Chung-hee promoted the Saemaul Undong (New Community Movement).
Cultural Context
Park Chung-hee is arguably one of the most polarizing figures in modern Korean history. He is widely credited for spearheading Korea's rapid industrialization and economic growth (the 'Miracle on the Han River'), which lifted many out of poverty. However, his authoritarian rule, suppression of dissent, and the Yusin Constitution are heavily criticized. His legacy continues to be a subject of intense debate, often dividing generations and political ideologies in South Korea.
Editorial note
We review entries like 박정희 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
박정희 시대
Park Chung-hee era
박정희 대통령
President Park Chung-hee
박정희의 공과
Park Chung-hee's achievements and failures
Related Expressions
새마을 운동
Saemaul Undong
New Community Movement (his signature rural development policy)
경제 발전
gyeongje baljeon
economic development
독재자
dokjaeja
dictator
유신 헌법
Yusin Heonbeop
Yusin Constitution
More Korean History Words
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