Who are presidents' in-laws?

By Kim Tae-gyu

Since the establishment of the government in South Korea in 1948, three years after independence from Japan, a total of 11 politicians have taken the country’s most powerful job.

All of the 11 have had children with the sole exception of incumbent President Park Geun-hye and have seen them get married. Some of their in-laws are ordinary Tom, Dick and Harrys but some are very extraordinary.

Here are a few notable in-laws of the country’s historic commanders-in-chief. Included in their jobs are businessman, lawmaker, lawyer and actress.

Notable son-in-laws

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won was married to Roh So-young, daughter of ex-President Roh Tae-woo. Chey confessed last year that he hopes for a divorce.

Hankook Tire CEO Cho Hyun-bum’s father-in-law is former President Lee Myung-bak. During Lee’s term, Hankook Tire did not take part in M&A deals to avoid suspicions of special treatment.

Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling Saenuri Party, a four-term lawmaker, tied the knot with the daughter of then-President Chun Doo-hwan in 1985 but they separated in 2005.

Former actress Park Sang-ah became the third wife of ex-President Chun Doo-hwan’s second son. Her husband is now detained in jail in Seoul for failing to pay fines levied over tax evasion charges.

Arguably, the most famous presidential son-in-law would be SK Group owner Chey Tae-won, who was married to Roh So-young, daughter of army general-turned-president Roh Tae-woo who headed the country from 1988 to 1993.

The two met while studying in the United States and tied the knot in 1988. Some believe the high-profile union helped the country’s third-largest conglomerate tap into the lucrative telecom market.

SK entered the mobile telephony business in 1989 but it was 1994 when the group acquired Korea Mobile Telecom, now No. 1 wireless carrier SK Telecom, from the government, around 1 year after Roh’s resignation.

On top of the mobile operator, SK Group has under its wings the country’s top refiner SK Innovation and the world’s second-largest semiconductor maker SK hynix.

Chairman Chey went through turbulent years as he has been jailed twice due to accounting fraud in 2003 and embezzlement in 2013. In both cases, Chey got presidential pardons.

The Chey couple currently runs the risk of separation as the tycoon confessed late last year that he hopes for a divorce.

Another renowned businessman on the list is Hankook Tire chief executive officer Cho Hyun-bum, whose father-in-law is ex-President Lee Myung-bak (2008~2013).

In 2008, Cho’s investments in three companies prompted prosecutors’ investigations as their stock prices surged in line with the Lee administration’s policy of snapping up foreign energy firms and mines.

Back then, the prosecution eventually dismissed charges against Cho but of late opposition lawmakers have taken issue with the stock investments.

Hankook Tire is the country’s leading tire manufacturer. Launched in 1941, it is also the nation’s first tire maker and became first exporter two decades later.

Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling Saenuri Party married the daughter of then-President Chun Doo-hwan (1980~1988) in 1985 but they separated 20 years later.

In 2010, Rep. Yoon married the daughter of Purmil -- formerly Lotte Milk -- Chairman Shin Jun-ho, younger brother of Lotte Group tycoon Shin Kyuk-ho.

The 54-year-old, one of the richest lawmakers of the country and a very close aide of President Park, made headlines early this year when he was found to spit out very aggressive words including explicit language to attack then party leader Kim Moo-sung.

After the scandal, the pro-Park loyalist had to leave the Saenuri Party but returned after winning in the general election this April as an independent candidate.

Recently, the four-term lawmaker came under fire once again as another audio clip was disclosed where he urged a lawmaker candidate to change the constituency Rep. Suh Chung-won who leads the pro-Park faction was running in.

Lawyer Kwak Sang-eon is the son-in-law of former President Roh Moo-hyun (2003~2008), who himself was an attorney.

In 2009, Roh jumped to his death from a cliff behind his house amid an investigation into allegations of corruption and bribery. Kwak was also suspected of involvement.

In 2014, Kwak gained attention as he represented the labor union of Citibank Korea, which cut some 650 from its payroll, against Kim & Chang, the nation’s biggest law firm. His father-in-law was also a human rights lawyer.

Notable daughter-in-laws

Daughter-in-laws of ex-presidents are mostly ordinary people but those of Chun Doo-hwan were different.

Chun’s third son, Jae-man, married the eldest daughter of DongA One Group Chairman Lee Hi-sang. The group, which manufactures flour and animal feed, while importing wines and pork, was sold to Sajo Group, which focuses on deep sea fishing and processed seafood products, this year.

Chun’s second son, Jae-yong, married three times. His first wife was the fourth daughter of Park Tae-joon, the founding chairman of the country’s foremost steelmaker POSCO.

Jae-yong’s third wife is former actress Park Sang-ah.

The junior Chun, who is now behind bars, has had a hard-knock life and Park’s life also has not been a picnic -- their assets were seized both in the United States and Korea and Chun was even convicted.

Last year, the Supreme Court sentenced the junior Chun to three years in prison suspended for four years for cooperating with his uncle to dodge some 2.7 billion won of taxes in a property deal in 2006.

The top court also ordered him to pay a 4 billion-won fine but he paid just 140 million won. As a result, the 51-year-old was imprisoned this month.