President of the Republic of Korea | |
---|---|
대한민국 대통령 大韓民國大統領 | |
Incumbent Yoon Suk Yeol (left) since 10 May 2022 (Powers and duties suspended since 14 December 2024) Acting President Choi Sang-mok (right) since 27 December 2024 | |
Executive branch of the Government of South Korea Office of the President | |
Style |
|
Status | |
Member of | |
Residence | Presidential Residence of South Korea |
Seat | Seoul |
Appointer | Direct popular vote |
Term length | Five years, non-renewable |
Constituting instrument | Constitution of South Korea |
Precursor | President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea |
Formation | 24 July 1948 |
First holder | Syngman Rhee |
Unofficial names | President of South Korea |
Deputy | Prime Minister of South Korea |
Salary | ₩240,648,000/USD$ 165,084 annually (2024)[1] |
Website | Official website (in English) Official website (in Korean) |
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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] However, he was impeached on 14 December 2024, suspending his powers; Prime Minister Han Duck-soo served briefly as acting president[6] until his own impeachment on 27 December 2024, leading Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok to assume the role of acting president.[7]