Park Myung-keun
Park Myung-keun (박명근; September 7, 1928 – December 9, 2004) was a South Korean army captain, prosecutor, and longtime politician who served in the National Assembly for four terms. He represented the Democratic Republican Party for his first three terms and the Democratic Libertarian Party for his last term.
He was born in Paju, Korea, when the country was under Japanese rule, the son of Park Seung-nyun and Kim Jong-sun. His father died when Park was two. He studied political science at Seoul National University and spoke fluent Japanese. He served in the Korean War and earned a Silver Star; he later rose to the rank of captain in the army.
Park began public service in 1957, working at the Audit Office (now the Board of Audit and Inspection), the Finance Ministry, and the Economic Planning Board. In 1967 he became secretary to President Park Chung-hee, helping with major development projects, including the construction of the Gyeongbu Expressway, in collaboration with Chung Ju-yung of Hyundai.
In 1971 he was elected as the 8th National Assembly member from Paju and later served in the 9th, 10th, and 14th assemblies. As a legislator, he chaired the Budget and Accounts Committee and worked to improve rural life in his hometown, promoting irrigation, flood control, and water supply projects along the Imjin River to boost farming and local development. He also helped attract investment to develop the region.
Park Myung-keun died on December 9, 2004, at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul. His funeral was held on December 11, and he was survived by his wife and six children (five daughters and one son). In 2008 a monument honoring him was erected in Paju, with a ceremony attended by local and national officials.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 20:12 (CET).