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President of South Korea

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For a list of presidents, see List of presidents of South Korea.

President of the Republic of Korea
대한민국 대통령
大韓民國大統領
Seal of the president
Standard of the president
Incumbent
Yoon Suk Yeol
since 10 May 2022
(Powers and duties suspended since 14 December 2024)
Acting President
Choi Sang-mok
since 27 December 2024
Executive branch of the Government of South Korea
Office of the President
Style
Status
Member of
ResidencePresidential Residence of South Korea
SeatSeoul
AppointerDirect popular vote
Term lengthFive years, non-renewable
Constituting instrumentConstitution of South Korea
PrecursorPresident of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
Formation24 July 1948; 76 years ago (1948-07-24)
First holderSyngman Rhee
Unofficial namesPresident of South Korea
DeputyPrime Minister of South Korea
Salary₩240,648,000/USD$ 165,084 annually (2024)[1]
WebsiteOfficial website (in English)
Official website (in Korean)
This article is part of a series on
Politics of South Korea
Government
Legislature
Executive
Judiciary
Elections
Political parties
Korean conflict

The president of the Republic of Korea (Korean: 대한민국 대통령; Hanja: 大韓民國大統領; RR: Daehanminguk daetongnyeong), also known as the president of Korea (Korean: 한국 대통령), is both the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Korea. The president is directly elected by the citizens of the Republic of Korea and pledges to execute the duties of their office, chief among others "to defend the State, (and to) pursue peaceful unification of the homeland." The president leads the State Council, is the chief of the executive branch of the national government and the commander-in-chief of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.

The Constitution of South Korea and the amended Presidential Election Act of 1987 provide for election of the president by direct, secret ballot, ending sixteen years of indirect presidential elections under the preceding two authoritarian governments. The president is directly elected to a five-year term, with no possibility of re-election.[2] If a presidential vacancy should occur, a successor must be elected within sixty days, during which time presidential duties are to be performed by the prime minister or other senior cabinet members in the order of priority as determined by law. The president is exempt from criminal liability (except for insurrection or treason).

The current president, Yoon Suk Yeol, a former prosecutor general and member of the conservative People Power Party, assumed office on 10 May 2022,[3][4] after defeating the Democratic Party's nominee Lee Jae-myung with a narrow 48.5% plurality in the 2022 South Korean presidential election.[5] After his impeachment on 14 December 2024, however, Prime Minister Han Duck Soo served as acting president,[6] until his own impeachment on 27 December 2024, leading Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang Mok to assume the role as acting president.[7]

History

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Syng-man Rhee, the first President of South Korea

Prior to the establishment of the First Republic in 1948, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea established in Shanghai in September 1919 as the continuation of several governments proclaimed in the aftermath of March First Movement earlier that year coordinated resistance against Japanese rule. The legitimacy of the Provisional Government has been recognized and succeeded by South Korea in the latter's original Constitution of 1948 and the current Constitution of 1987.

The presidential term has been set at five years since 1988. It was previously set at four years from 1948 to 1972, six years from 1972 to 1981, and seven years from 1981 to 1988. Since 1981, the president has been barred from re-election.

Powers and duties of the president

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Chapter 3 of the South Korean constitution states the duties and the powers of the president. The president is required to:

Also, the president is given the powers:

  • as the head of the executive branch of government
  • as the commander-in-chief of the South Korean military
  • to declare war
  • to hold referendums regarding issues of national importance
  • to issue executive orders
  • to issue medals in honor of service for the nation
  • to issue pardons
  • to declare a state of emergency suspending all laws or enacting a state of martial law
  • to veto bills (subject to a two thirds majority veto override by the National Assembly)[8]

If the National Assembly votes against a presidential decision, it will be declared void immediately.

The president may refer important policy matters to a national referendum, declare war, conclude peace and other treaties, appoint senior public officials, and grant amnesty (with the concurrence of the National Assembly). In times of serious internal or external turmoil or threat, or economic or financial crises, the president may assume emergency powers "for the maintenance of national security or public peace and order." Emergency measures may be taken only when the National Assembly is not in session and when there is no time for it to convene. The measures are limited to the "minimum necessary".

The 1987 Constitution removed the 1980 Constitution's explicit provisions that empowered the government to temporarily suspend the freedoms and rights of the people. However, the president is permitted to take other measures that could amend or abolish existing laws for the duration of a crisis. It is unclear whether such emergency measures could temporarily suspend portions of the Constitution itself. Emergency measures must be referred to the National Assembly for concurrence. If not endorsed by the assembly, the emergency measures can be revoked; any laws that had been overridden by presidential order regain their original effect. In this respect, the power of the legislature is more vigorously asserted than in cases of ratification of treaties or declarations of war, in which the Constitution simply states that the National Assembly "has the right to consent" to the president's actions. In a change from the 1980 Constitution, the 1987 Constitution stated that the president is not permitted to dissolve the National Assembly.

Election

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Further information: Presidential elections in South Korea

The presidential election rules are defined by the South Korean Constitution and the Public Official Election Act. The president is elected by direct popular vote, conducted using first-past-the-post.

Latest election

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Main article: 2022 South Korean presidential election
CandidatePartyVotes%
Yoon Suk YeolPeople Power Party16,394,81548.56
Lee Jae-myungDemocratic Party16,147,73847.83
Sim Sang-jungJustice Party803,3582.38
Huh Kyung-youngNational Revolutionary Party281,4810.83
Kim Jae-yeonProgressive Party37,3660.11
Cho Won-jinOur Republican Party25,9720.08
Oh Jun-hoBasic Income Party18,1050.05
Kim Min-chanKorean Wave Alliance17,3050.05
Lee Gyeong-heeKorean Unification11,7080.03
Lee Baek-yunLabor Party9,1760.03
Kim Gyeong-jaeNew Liberal Democratic Union8,3170.02
Ok Un-hoSaenuri Party4,9700.01
Total33,760,311100.00
Valid votes33,760,31199.10
Invalid/blank votes307,5420.90
Total votes34,067,853100.00
Registered voters/turnout44,197,69277.08
Source: Election results

By region

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Major candidates

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Breakdown of votes by region for candidates with at least 1% of the total votes.

Region Yoon Suk Yeol Lee Jae-myung Sim Sang-jung
Votes % Votes % Votes %
Seoul 3,255,747 50.6 2,944,981 45.7 180,324 2.8
Busan 1,270,072 58.3 831,896 38.1 47,541 2.2
Daegu 1,199,888 75.1 345,045 21.6 31,131 1.9
Incheon 878,560 47.1 913,320 48.9 51,852 2.8
Gwangju 124,511 12.7 830,058 84.8 14,865 1.5
Daejeon 464,060 49.6 434,950 46.4 25,445 2.7
Ulsan 396,321 54.4 297,134 40.8 21,292 2.9
Sejong 101,491 44.1 119,349 51.9 6,780 2.9
Gyeonggi 3,965,341 45.6 4,428,151 50.9 205,709 2.4
Gangwon 544,980 54.2 419,644 41.7 25,031 2.5
North Chungcheong 511,921 50.7 455,853 45.1 26,557 2.6
South Chungcheong 670,283 51.1 589,991 45.0 31,789 2.4
North Jeolla 176,809 14.4 1,016,863 83.0 19,451 1.6
South Jeolla 145,549 11.4 1,094,872 86.1 16,279 1.3
North Gyeongsang 1,278,922 72.8 418,371 23.8 33,123 1.9
South Gyeongsang 1,237,346 58.2 794,130 37.4 52,591 2.5
Jeju 173,014 42.7 213,130 52.6 13,598 3.4
Total 16,394,815 48.6 16,147,738 47.8 803,358 2.4
Source: National Election Commission

Minor candidates

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Breakdown of votes by region for candidates with less than 1% of the total votes.

Region Huh
Kyung-young 		Kim
Jae-yeon 		Cho
Won-jin 		Oh
Jun-ho 		Kim
Min-chan 		Lee
Gyeong-hee 		Lee
Baek-yun 		Kim
Gyeong-jae 		Ok
Un-ho
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Seoul 36,540 0.6 5,615 0.1 4,657 0.1 3,829 0.1 1,907 0.0 1,333 0.0 1,571 0.0 1,791 0.0 844 0.0
Busan 21,990 1.0 2,799 0.1 1,867 0.1 1,071 0.0 942 0.0 575 0.0 546 0.0 527 0.0 352 0.0
Daegu 13,941 0.9 938 0.1 2,824 0.2 892 0.1 619 0.0 472 0.0 344 0.0 451 0.0 261 0.0
Incheon 16,733 0.9 1,593 0.1 1,378 0.1 1,116 0.1 758 0.0 511 0.0 508 0.0 449 0.0 276 0.0
Gwangju 6,138 0.6 1,366 0.1 112 0.0 434 0.0 455 0.0 188 0.0 242 0.0 140 0.0 92 0.0
Daejeon 8,593 0.9 958 0.1 588 0.1 566 0.1 395 0.0 258 0.0 223 0.0 227 0.0 138 0.0
Ulsan 9,234 1.3 2,180 0.3 685 0.1 375 0.1 333 0.0 234 0.0 308 0.0 185 0.0 109 0.0
Sejong 1,594 0.7 181 0.1 121 0.1 100 0.0 88 0.0 66 0.0 50 0.0 48 0.0 23 0.0
Gyeonggi 63,207 0.7 8,768 0.1 5,897 0.1 4,151 0.0 3,192 0.0 1,927 0.0 1,919 0.0 1,990 0.0 1,124 0.0
Gangwon 11,668 1.2 1,260 0.1 824 0.1 582 0.1 560 0.1 525 0.1 323 0.0 262 0.0 181 0.0
North Chungcheong 11,165 1.1 1,083 0.1 779 0.1 614 0.1 653 0.1 698 0.1 385 0.0 288 0.0 213 0.0
South Chungcheong 14,169 1.1 1,586 0.1 899 0.1 750 0.1 864 0.1 791 0.1 477 0.0 314 0.0 200 0.0
North Jeolla 7,975 0.7 896 0.1 299 0.0 542 0.0 1,464 0.1 409 0.0 377 0.0 199 0.0 135 0.0
South Jeolla 8,322 0.7 1,917 0.2 296 0.0 672 0.1 2,246 0.2 507 0.0 473 0.0 304 0.0 179 0.0
North Gyeongsang 18,028 1.0 1,763 0.1 2,431 0.1 964 0.1 1,046 0.1 1,607 0.1 535 0.0 550 0.0 356 0.0
South Gyeongsang 28,645 1.3 3,892 0.2 2,044 0.1 1,180 0.1 1,473 0.1 1,379 0.1 749 0.0 491 0.0 424 0.0
Jeju 3,539 0.9 571 0.1 271 0.1 267 0.1 310 0.1 228 0.1 146 0.0 101 0.0 63 0.0
Total 281.481 0.8 37,366 0.1 25,972 0.1 18,105 0.1 17,305 0.1 11,708 0.0 9,176 0.0 8,317 0.0 4,970 0.0
Source: National Election Commission


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The president is assisted by the staff of the Presidential Secretariat, headed by a cabinet-rank secretary general. Apart from the State Council, or cabinet, the chief executive relies on several constitutional organs.

These constitutional organs included the National Security Council, which provided advice concerning the foreign, military, and domestic policies bearing on national security. Chaired by the president, the council in 1990 had as its statutory members the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, the ministers for foreign affairs, home affairs, finance, and national defense, the director of the Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP) which was known as the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) until December 1980, and others designated by the president. Another important body is the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, inaugurated in June 1981 under the chairmanship of the president. From its inception, this body had no policy role, but rather appeared to serve as a government sounding board and as a means to disburse political rewards by providing large numbers of dignitaries and others with titles and opportunities to meet periodically with the president and other senior officials.

The president also was assisted in 1990 by the Audit and Inspection Board. In addition to auditing the accounts of all public institutions, the board scrutinized the administrative performance of government agencies and public officials. Its findings were reported to the president and the National Assembly, which itself had broad powers to inspect the work of the bureaucracy under the provisions of the Constitution. Board members were appointed by the president.

One controversial constitutional organ was the Advisory Council of Elder Statesmen, which replaced a smaller body in February 1988, just before Roh Tae Woo was sworn in as president. This body was supposed to be chaired by the immediate former president; its expansion to eighty members, broadened functions, and elevation to cabinet rank made it appear to have been designed, as one Seoul newspaper said, to "preserve the status and position of a certain individual." The government announced plans to reduce the size and functions of this body immediately after Roh's inauguration. Public suspicions that the council might provide former President Chun with a power base within the Sixth Republic were rendered moot when Chun withdrew to an isolated Buddhist temple in self-imposed exile in November 1988.

Removal

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See also: Impeachment of Park Geun-hye, Impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, and Impeachment of Han Duck-soo
English Translation: Impeachment of the President (Park Geun-hye), Case No. 2016Hun-Na1

The procedure for impeachment is set out in the Constitution. According to Article 65 Clause 1, if the President, Prime Minister, or other state council members violate the Constitution or other laws of official duty, the National Assembly can impeach them.

Clause 2 states the impeachment bill must be proposed by one third and approved by a majority of members of the National Assembly for passage. In the case of the President, the motion must be proposed by a majority and approved by a supermajority of two thirds or more of the total members of the National Assembly, meaning that 200 of 300 members of the National Assembly must approve the bill. This article also states that any person against whom a motion for impeachment has been passed shall be suspended from exercising power until the impeachment has been adjudicated, and a decision on impeachment shall not extend further than removal from public office. However, impeachment shall not exempt the person impeached from civil or criminal liability for such violations.[9]

By the Constitutional Court Act, the Constitutional Court must make a final decision within 180 days after it receives any case for adjudication, including impeachment cases. If the respondent has already left office before the pronouncement of the decision, the case is dismissed.[10]

Four presidents have been impeached since the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948. Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 was impeached by the National Assembly, but the impeachment was overturned by the Constitutional Court. Park Geun-hye was impeached by the National Assembly in 2016, and the impeachment was confirmed by the Constitutional Court on March 10, 2017.[11][12] Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the National Assembly on 14 December 2024.[13] Han Duck-soo became the first acting president to be impeached on 27 December 2024. Despite holding presidential powers, the National Assembly considered Han a cabinet minister, allowing him to be removed by a simple majority rather than the two-thirds required of previous presidents.[14]

Presidential office

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Office of the President of South Korea

The Cheong Wa Dae (Korean: 청와대; Hanja: 靑瓦臺) or Blue House was built upon a Joseon-era royal garden. It is a complex of multiple buildings built largely in the traditional Korean architectural style with some modern architectural elements and facilities. Cheong Wa Dae consists of the Main Office Hall Bon-gwan,[a] the Presidential Residence, the State Reception House Yeongbin-gwan,[b] and serveral other buildings and structures. The entire complex covers approximately 250,000 square metres or 62 acres. While the Blue House served as an executive office, it was one of the most protected official residences in Asia.[15]

Upon the inauguration of President Yoon Suk Yeol in May 2022, Cheong Wa Dae was relieved of its duties as the official residence and executive office of the president and fully converted to a public park. The president's office and residence was moved to the Office of the President of South Korea (formerly the Ministry of National Defense building) in the Yongsan District of Seoul.[16]

Compensation and privileges of office

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As of 2021, the president receives a salary of ₩240,648,000[1] along with an undisclosed expense account to cover travel, goods and services while in office.

In addition, the presidency of the republic maintains the Chongri Gonggwan ("Official Residence of the Prime Minister") and the Prime Ministers Office in Seoul. The Chongri Gonggwan is the prime minister's official residence and official workplace. The prime minister is allowed use of all other official government offices and residences.

The president also has many regional offices especially in the major cities ready to receive the president at any time. Although not residences, they are owned by the national government and are used when the president is in the region or city.

A Code One Boeing 747-8i flying in South Korean government's colors.

For ground travel the president uses a highly modified Hyundai Nexo SUV to serve as the presidential state vehicle.[17] For air travel the president uses a highly modified plane which is a military version of the Boeing 747-8 with the call sign Code One and a highly modified helicopter which is a military version of the Sikorsky S-92 that serves as the presidential helicopter.

Post-presidency

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All former presidents receive a lifelong pension and Presidential Security Service detail. Unlike the prime minister, a former president cannot decline PSS protection. In recent years, South Korean presidents tend to have controversial post-presidencies; four of the last six have served time in prison.[18][19][20]

Impeached presidents are stripped of their post-presidential benefits such as pension, free medical services, state funding for post-retirement offices, personal assistants and a chauffeur, and right to burial at the Seoul National Cemetery after death. However, such individuals are still entitled to retain security protection under the Presidential Security Act.[21]

Order of succession

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See also: Cabinet of South Korea
Part of a series on
Orders of succession
Presidencies

Article 71 of the Constitution of South Korea states, 'In the event of the president not being able to discharge the duties of his/her office, the Prime Minister and ministers in line of the order of succession shall be the acting president.' Article 68 of the Constitution requires the acting president to hold new elections within 60 days if the presidency is vacant or the president is permanently incapacitated.[22]

Timeline of presidents

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Main article: List of presidents of South Korea
Ideology # Time in office Name(s)
Conservative 9 21669 days[c] Choi Kyu-hah, Chun Doo-hwan, Kim Young-sam, Lee Myung-bak, Park Chung Hee, Park Geun-hye, Roh Tae-woo, Syngman Rhee, and Yoon Suk Yeol (incumbent)
Liberal 4 6067 days Kim Dae-jung, Moon Jae-in, Roh Moo-hyun, and Yun Po-sun
Yoon Suk YeolMoon Jae-inPark Geun-hyeLee Myung-bakRoh Moo-hyunKim Dae-jungKim Young-samRoh Tae-wooChun Doo-hwanChoi Kyu-hahPark Chung HeeYun Po-sunSyngman RheeSouth KoreaFifth Republic of KoreaFourth Republic of KoreaThird Republic of KoreaSupreme Council for National ReconstructionSecond Republic of KoreaFirst Republic of Korea

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 본관; 本館; lit. Main House
  2. ^ 영빈관迎賓館; lit. Welcome-Guest House
  3. ^ As of 29 December 2024
  4. ^ Goh Kun served as acting president during Roh's suspension from 12 March 2004 to 14 May 2004.

References

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  1. ^ a b Executive Order: 공무원보수규정(제31380호)(20210105) / (별표 32) 고정급적 연봉제 적용대상 공무원의 연봉표(제35조 관련) (in Korean)
  2. ^ Article 70 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea.
  3. ^ "Yoon Suk Yeol to be sworn in as South Korea's new president". Kyodo News. Seoul. 10 May 2022.
  4. ^ Haye-Ah, Lee (10 May 2022). "(LEAD) Yoon to take oath of office as S. Korea's new president". Yonhap News Agency. Seoul.
  5. ^ Choon, Chang May (11 March 2022). "Justice icon Yoon Suk Yeol elected new South Korea president, but rocky road ahead". The Straits Times. Seoul. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  6. ^ Lee, Joyce (14 December 2024). "Who is Han Duck-soo, South Korea's acting president after Yoon impeachment?". Reuters. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  7. ^ "South Korea's acting president Han Duck-soo impeached". CNA. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  8. ^ Article 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea
  9. ^ "Constitution of the Republic of Korea". Korean Laws in English. South Korean Ministry of Government Legislation. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  10. ^ "CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ACT [Enforcement Date 20. Mar, 2018.] [Act No.15495, 20. Mar, 2018., Partial Amendment]". National Law Enforcement Center. Ministry of Government Legislation. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  11. ^ Kim, Da-sol (8 December 2016). "Revisiting Roh Moo-hyun impeachment". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Park Geun-hye fired as court upholds impeachment". Al Jazzera. 10 March 2017.
  13. ^ "South Korean MPs impeach president over martial law attempt". BBC. 14 December 2024. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  14. ^ "South Korea votes to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo". BBC News. 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  15. ^ Salmon, Andrew (28 March 2022). "Yoon vs Moon war over cursed Blue House". Asia Times. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Cheong Wa Dae opens to public after 74 years". The Korea Times. 10 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Fuel Cell Car Has Become S. Korea's Presidential Vehicle". KBS World Radio. 27 August 2019. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  18. ^ Schieber, Olivia (9 October 2018). "South Korea's troubling history of jailing ex-presidents". American Enterprise Institute – AEI.
  19. ^ "Most South Korean leaders have faced turbulent downfalls—Park Geun-hye is no exception". Newsweek. 6 April 2018.
  20. ^ Ferrier, Kyle (12 October 2018). "The South Korean Presidency Isn't Cursed. It Just Needs to be Reformed". The Diplomat.
  21. ^ "Park Geun-hye stripped of all presidential perks, to move out of Blue House immediately". asiaone.com. 10 March 2017. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  22. ^ Yoon, Chang-hee (25 November 2016). 대통령 탄핵시 대행 순위는?. KBS (in Korean). Retrieved 6 February 2021.
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