President of South Korea
| President of the Republic of Korea
대한민국 대통령 大韓民國大統領 | |
|---|---|
| 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 (1948) |
| 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) |
The President of the Republic of Korea is the head of state, leader of the executive of the South Korean government and the commander-in-chief of the South Korean Armed Forces.
The president is directly elected by the people to a five-year term, with no possibility of re-election.[2] While in office, the chief executive lives in Cheong Wa Dae (the "Blue House").
If the National Assembly votes against a presidential decision, it will be declared void immediately.
Powers and duties of the president
The president is required to:
- uphold the Constitution
- preserve the safety and homeland of South Korea
- work for the peaceful reunification of Korea, typically act as the Chairperson of the National Unification Advisory Council
List of presidents
Living former presidents
As of July 2026, four former presidents are alive:
| Image | Name | Term of office | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Myung-bak | 2008–2013 | 84 years, 210 days | |
| Park Geun-hye | 2013–2017 | 74 years, 165 days | |
| Moon Jae-in | 2017–2022 | 73 years, 186 days | |
| Yoon Suk Yeol | 2022–2025 | 65 years, 211 days |
The longest-lived President was Yun Bo-seon, who died on July 18, 1990 (at the age of 92 years, 326 days).
The most recent President to die was Chun Doo-hwan, who died on November 23, 2021.
President Of South Korea Media
Syng-man Rhee, the first President of South Korea
A Code One Boeing 747-8i flying in South Korean government's colors.
The phoenixes and rose of sharon have been the official symbol of the presidency since 1967, but were used unofficially as early as 1955. Along with appearing on the standard, it can be seen on buildings associated with the presidency and other materials, and previously appeared on the emblem of the presidential office from 2022 to 2025.
The emblem of Cheong Wa Dae
1st: Syngman Rhee1st, 2nd & 3rd terms(served: 1948–1960)
2nd: Yun Po-sun 4th term(served: 1960–1962)
3rd: Park Chung Hee5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th terms(served: 1963–1979)
References
- ↑ Executive Order: 공무원보수규정(제31380호)(20210105) / (별표 32) 고정급적 연봉제 적용대상 공무원의 연봉표(제35조 관련) (in Korean)
- ↑ Article 70 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea.
Other websites
- Official Website of the President of the Republic of Korea Archived 2006-10-14 at the Wayback Machine