Government and Politics of Korea, South

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities* (gwangyoksi, singular and plural); Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo, Inch'on-gwangyoksi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi*, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-gwangyoksi*, Taejon-gwangyoksi*, Ulsan-gwangyoksi*

Legal System

combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Korea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President YOON Suk-yeol (since 10 May 2022) head of government: Prime Minister HAN Duck-soo (since 21 May 2022); Deputy Prime Ministers CHOI Sang-mok (Economy and Finance) and LEE Ju-ho (Education) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 9 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2027); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president on prime minister's recommendation election results: results of the 9 March 2022 election - YOON Suk-yeol elected president; percent of vote - YOON Suk-yeol (PPP) 48.6%; LEE Jae-myung (DP) 47.8%; other 3.6%

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Assembly or Gukkhoe (300 seats — 254 members elected in single-seat constituencies and 46 seats allocated by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms) Elections: last held on 10 April 2024 (next to be held in April 2028) Election results: percent of vote by party — Democratic Party of Korea (DP) 52.3%, People Power Party (PPP) 45.7%, Rebuilding Korea Party 24.0% (proportional), others and independents; seats by party — Democratic Party of Korea 175, People Power Party 108, Rebuilding Korea Party 12, others and independents 5 Note: The April 2024 general election resulted in a decisive majority for the opposition Democratic Party of Korea and its affiliated bloc, significantly limiting the legislative influence of the ruling People Power Party led by then-President Yoon Suk-yeol. The Rebuilding Korea Party, founded by former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, competed separately in the proportional vote before later merging back with the Democratic Party. The National Assembly plays a central role in South Korean governance, with its composition frequently reflecting sharp divisions between progressive and conservative political forces. (2024)

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (justices appointed by president with consent of National Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed by president based partly on nominations by National Assembly and Chief Justice of the court)

Political Parties

Democratic Labor Party or DLP [KWON Young-ghil, interim chairman]; Democratic Party or DP [HAHN Hwa-kap, chairman]; Grand National Party or GNP [PARK Geun-hye, chairwoman]; People-Centered Party or PCP [SHIM Dae-pyong, chairman]; Uri Party [YOO Jay-gun, chairman]

Head of State

President YOON Suk-yeol

Head of Government

Prime Minister HAN Duck-soo

Cabinet

State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister’s recommendation

Elections

last held on 10 April 2024 (next to be held in April 2028)

Election Results

percent of vote by party — Democratic Party of Korea (DP) 52.3%, People Power Party (PPP) 45.7%, Rebuilding Korea Party 24.0% (proportional), others and independents; seats by party — Democratic Party of Korea 175, People Power Party 108, Rebuilding Korea Party 12, others and independents 5 Note: The April 2024 general election resulted in a decisive majority for the opposition Democratic Party of Korea and its affiliated bloc, significantly limiting the legislative influence of the ruling People Power Party led by then-President Yoon Suk-yeol. The Rebuilding Korea Party, founded by former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, competed separately in the proportional vote before later merging back with the Democratic Party. The National Assembly plays a central role in South Korean governance, with its composition frequently reflecting sharp divisions between progressive and conservative political forces. (2024)

Constitution

17-Jul-48

Independence

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

National Holiday

Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

International Organization Participation

AfDB, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador LEE Tae-sik chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle consulate(s): Agana (Guam), New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander VERSHBOW embassy: 32 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: American Embassy Seoul, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845

Capital City

Seoul; note - Sejong, located some 120 km (75 mi) south of Seoul, serves as an administrative capital for segments of the South Korean Government

Location

37 33 N, 126 59 E

Time Difference

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

the name originates from the Korean word meaning "capital city" and which is believed to be derived from Seorabeol, the name of the capital of the ancient Korean Kingdom of Silla

U.S. Embassy, Seoul, Republic of Korea 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 110-710 APO address is Unit 15550, APO, AP 96205-5550 Telephone: (82-2) 397-4114 (from a cell phone in the Republic of Korea: 02-397-4114) Emergency after-hours telephone: 82-2-397-4114. If you have access to DSN, please call 721-4114. Facsimile: (82-2) 397-4101.

Military Branches

Republic of Korea Army; Navy (includes Marine Corps); Air Force

Service Age and Obligation

20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle school education required; conscript service obligation - 21 months (Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, admitted to 7 service branches, including infantry, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; HIV-positive individuals are exempt from military service