If elected , Park Chung - hye would be the country 's first female president . Seoul , South Korea ( CNN ) -- South Korea 's ruling Saenuri Party overwhelmingly selected Park Geun-hye as its presidential candidate during its political convention on Monday . Park is the daughter of former dictator Park Chung - hee . He was assassinated by his security chief in 1979 .
If elected , Park Chung - hye would be the country 's first female president . Park is the daughter of former dictator Park Chung - hee . He was assassinated by his security chief in 1979 .