Politics of South Korea - Executive Branch

Executive Branch

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
President Lee Myung-bak Saenuri Party 25 February 2008
Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik Saenuri Party 1 October 2010

The head of state is the president, who is elected by direct popular vote for a single five-year term. The president is Commander-in-Chief of the armed force of South Korea and enjoys considerable executive powers.

The president appoints the prime minister with approval of the National Assembly, as well as appointing and presiding over the State Council of chief ministers as the head of government. On 12 March 2004 the executive power of then president Roh Moo-hyun was suspended when the Assembly voted to impeach him and Prime Minister Goh Kun became an Acting President. On 14 May 2004 the Constitutional Court overturned the impeachment decision made by the Assembly and Roh was reinstated.

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