View source for President of South Korea

{{Short description|Head of state and government of South Korea}}
{{For|a list of presidents|List of presidents of South Korea}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = President
| body = the {{nowrap|Republic of Korea}}
| insignia = File:Provisional emblem of the Office of the President of South Korea.svg
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = [[Emblem of South Korea#Gallery|Emblem of the Office of the President]]
| insigniaalt = 
| flag = Flag of the President of South Korea.svg
| flagsize = 
| flagalt = 
| flagborder = 
| flagcaption = [[List of South Korean flags#National government flags|Presidential standard]]
| image = Lee Jae-myung 20250823.jpg
| alt = 
| imagecaption = 
| incumbent = [[Lee Jae Myung]]
| acting = 
| incumbentsince = 4 June 2025
| department = [[Government of South Korea#Executive branch|Executive branch of the Government of South Korea]]<br />[[Office of the President (South Korea)|Office of the President]]
| style = {{plainlist| 
* [[Mr. President (title)|Mr. President]] (informal)
* [[Excellency|His Excellency]] (diplomatic)
}}
| type = Head Of Executive Branch
| status = {{ubl|[[Head of state]]|[[Head of government]]|[[Commander-in-chief]]}}
| abbreviation = 
| member_of = {{ubl|[[State Council of South Korea|State Council]]|[[National Security Council (South Korea)|National Security Council]]|[[National Unification Advisory Council]]}}
| reports_to = 
| residence = [[Presidential Residence of South Korea]]
| seat = [[Seoul]]
| nominator = 
| appointer = [[Presidential elections in South Korea|Direct popular vote]]
| termlength = Five years,
| termlength_qualified = Non renewable
| constituting_instrument = [[Constitution of South Korea]] (1948)
| precursor = [[List of presidents of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea|President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea]]
| formation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1948|7|24}}
| first = [[Syngman Rhee]]
| last = 
| abolished = 
| superseded_by = 
| succession = 
| unofficial_names = President of South Korea
| deputy = [[Prime Minister of South Korea]]
| salary = ₩240,648,000/USD$ 165,084 annually (2024)<ref name=":0">Executive Order: [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/%28%EB%B3%84%ED%91%9C_32%29_%EA%B3%A0%EC%A0%95%EA%B8%89%EC%A0%81_%EC%97%B0%EB%B4%89%EC%A0%9C_%EC%A0%81%EC%9A%A9%EB%8C%80%EC%83%81_%EA%B3%B5%EB%AC%B4%EC%9B%90%EC%9D%98_%EC%97%B0%EB%B4%89%ED%91%9C%28%EC%A0%9C35%EC%A1%B0_%EA%B4%80%EB%A0%A8%29.pdf 공무원보수규정(제31380호)(20210105) / (별표 32) 고정급적 연봉제 적용대상 공무원의 연봉표(제35조 관련)] (in Korean)</ref>
| footnotes = {{infobox Korean name/auto
|hangul=^대한민국 대통령|hanja=大韓民國大統領|child=yes
}}
| inaugural = 
| website = {{Official website|http://www.president.go.kr/}} {{in lang|ko}}
}}
{{Politics of South Korea}}
The '''president of the Republic of Korea''' ({{korean|hangul=대한민국 대통령}}), also known as the '''president of South Korea''' ({{korean|한국 대통령|labels=no}}), is the [[head of state]] and [[head of government]] of [[South Korea]]. The president directs the executive branch of the [[Government of South Korea|government]] and is 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.<ref>Article 70 of the [[Constitution of the Republic of Korea]].</ref> 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 of South Korea|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).

On 3 June 2025, [[Lee Jae Myung]] of the [[Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015)|Democratic Party]] was elected as president of South Korea. Due to the [[Impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol|previous president's impeachment and expulsion from office]], Lee was sworn in immediately the next day.<ref name="Joo, Kim 2025-06-04">{{cite web | author=Joo Hee-yeon|author2=Kim Me-geon | title=New president to take office hours after polls close | website=The Chosun Daily | date=June 3, 2025 | url=https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/06/03/TLR6KGN2WBB6HEMAVJKKIBJOFE/ | access-date=June 3, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Baek 2025-06-04">{{cite web | first=Byung-yeul | last=Baek | title=Lee Jae-myung, factory worker-turned-reformer, set to lead Korea | website=The Korea Times | url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20250604/lee-jae-myung-factory-worker-turned-reformer-set-to-lead-korea | access-date=June 3, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Eun-jung |date=4 June 2025 |title=Lee Jae-myung formally begins presidential term |url=https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250604001400315 |access-date=4 June 2025 |website=Yonhap News Agency}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Rhee Syng-Man in 1948.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Rhee Syng-man|Syng-man Rhee]], the first President of South Korea]]
Prior to the establishment of the [[First Republic of Korea|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 [[Korea under Japanese rule|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==
Chapter 3 of the South Korean constitution states the duties and the powers of the president. The president is required to:
* uphold the Constitution
* preserve the safety and homeland of South Korea
* work for the peaceful [[Korean reunification|reunification of Korea]], typically act as the Chairperson of the [[Peaceful Unification Advisory Council]]

Also, the president is given the powers:
* as the head of the [[Executive (government)|executive branch]] of government
* as the commander-in-chief of the South Korean military
* to [[Declaration of war|declare war]]
* to hold [[referendum]]s regarding issues of national importance
* to issue [[decree|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)<ref>Article 53 of the [[Constitution of the Republic of Korea]]</ref>

If the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|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.

==Term limits==
{{Main|Term limits in South Korea}}

The office of president has a strict non-renewable [[term limit]] of five years, enacted in 1987 under Article 70 of the [[Constitution of South Korea]] after the country endured several years of autocratic rule. South Korea's presidential term limit is one of the shortest in the world, and is the shortest in Asia.<ref>[https://acikbilim.yok.gov.tr/bitstream/handle/20.500.12812/323569/yokAcikBilim_10158622.pdf Demirbülak H.K., ''Changing the Status of the Presidency: A Comparison of Constitutional Amendments in South Korea and Turkey'']. [[Boğaziçi University]]. Retrieved 18 July 2025.</ref><ref>[https://academic.oup.com/book/35074/chapter-abstract/299063294?redirectedFrom=fulltext Yap F., ''Term Limits in South Korea: Promises and Perils'']. [[Oxford University Press]]. Retrieved 18 July 2025.</ref> As an additional safeguard against authoritarian tendencies, Article 128 of the Constitution stipulates that any amendments to extend the term of office shall not apply to the incumbent president at the time the amendments were made.

==Election==
{{further|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 voting|first-past-the-post]].

===Latest election===
{{main|2025 South Korean presidential election}}
{{#section:2025 South Korean presidential election|resultstable}}

==Related constitutional organs==
The president is assisted by the staff of the [[Office of the President (South Korea)|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 (South Korea)|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 [[National Intelligence Service (South Korea)|Agency for National Security Planning]] (ANSP) which was known as the [[National Intelligence Service (South Korea)|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==
{{See also|Impeachment of Park Geun-hye|Impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol|Impeachment of Han Duck-soo}}
[[File:Case on impeachment of the President (Park Geun-hye).pdf|thumb|250px|'''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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moleg.go.kr/english/korLawEng?pstSeq=54794|title=Constitution of the Republic of Korea|website=Korean Laws in English|publisher=South Korean [[Ministry of Government Legislation]]|access-date=2018-12-26}}</ref>

By the Constitutional Court Act, the [[Constitutional Court of Korea|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitutional Court Act [Enforcement Date 20. Mar, 2018.] [Act No.15495, 20. Mar, 2018., Partial Amendment] |url=https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/eng/engLsSc.do?menuId=2&section=lawNm&query=CONSTITUTIONAL+COURT+ACT&x=0&y=0#liBgcolor0 |website=National Law Enforcement Center |publisher=[[Ministry of Government Legislation]] |access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref>

Three 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Da-sol |title=Revisiting Roh Moo-hyun impeachment |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20161208000727 |access-date=9 February 2021 |work=[[The Korea Herald]] |date=8 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/park-geun-hye-impeachment-170310020959193.html|date=10 Mar 2017|title=Park Geun-hye fired as court upholds impeachment|agency=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazzera]]}}</ref> [[Yoon Suk Yeol]] was impeached by the National Assembly on 14 December 2024, and the impeachment was confirmed by the Constitutional Court on April 4, 2025.<ref>{{cite news |title=South Korean MPs impeach president over martial law attempt |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c140xjv31lxo |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=BBC |date=14 December 2024 |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214201249/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c140xjv31lxo |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Han Duck-soo]] became the first acting president to be impeached on 27 December 2024. Although Han held presidential powers, the National Assembly considered him a cabinet minister, allowing him to be removed by a simple majority rather than the two-thirds required of previous presidents.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 December 2024 |title=South Korea votes to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj30234e0djo |access-date=December 27, 2024 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

==Presidential office==
The [[Blue House|Cheong Wa Dae]] ({{Korean|hangul=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 architecture|Korean architectural]] style with some modern architectural elements and facilities. Cheong Wa Dae consists of the Main Office Hall ''Bon-gwan'',{{efn|{{Korean|hangul=본관|hanja=本館|lit='Main House'|labels=no}}}} the Presidential Residence, the State Reception House ''Yeongbin-gwan'',{{efn|{{Korean|hangul=영빈관|hanja=迎賓館|lit='Welcome-Guest House'|labels=no}}}} and several 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 residence]]s in [[Asia]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Salmon |first1=Andrew |title=Yoon vs Moon war over cursed Blue House |url=https://asiatimes.com/2022/03/yoon-vs-moon-war-over-cursed-blue-house/ |website=Asia Times |access-date=24 December 2024 |date=28 March 2022}}</ref>

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 (South Korea)|Ministry of National Defense]] building) in the [[Yongsan District]] of [[Seoul]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 10, 2022 |title=Cheong Wa Dae opens to public after 74 years |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/04/113_328870.html |work=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref> Following [[Impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol|Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment]], his successor [[Lee Jae Myung]] is planning to restore Cheong Wa Dae as the official residence.<ref name="Kimsy25">{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Seung-yeon |date=3 June 2025 |title=Nearly 6 in 10 S. Koreans say they want new president back at Cheong Wa Dae: poll |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250603005500315 |access-date=3 June 2025 |work=[[Yonhap]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Eun-jung |date=5 June 2025 |title=Lee to stay in presidential residence until office relocation |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250605010400315 |access-date=5 June 2025 |work=[[Yonhap]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Compensation and privileges of office==
As of 2021, the president receives a salary of [[South Korean won|₩]]240,648,000<ref name=":0" /> 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.
[[File:Government of South Korea, 22-001, Boeing 747-8B5 (52660390227).jpg|thumb|A ''[[Code One]]'' [[Boeing 747-8]]i 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 car (South Korea)|presidential state vehicle]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=27 Aug 2019|title=Fuel Cell Car Has Become S. Korea's Presidential Vehicle|work=[[KBS World Radio]]|url=http://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=147693|url-status=live|access-date=8 Feb 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507224837/http://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=147693|archive-date=May 7, 2021}}</ref> 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 (South Korea)|presidential helicopter]].

==Post-presidency==
All former presidents receive a lifelong pension and [[Presidential Security Service (South Korea)|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 and unfortunate post-presidencies; four of the last six have served time in prison.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aei.org/foreign-and-defense-policy/asia/south-koreas-troubling-history-of-jailing-ex-presidents/|title=South Korea's troubling history of jailing ex-presidents|newspaper=American Enterprise Institute – AEI |date=9 October 2018 |last1=Schieber |first1=Olivia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/south-korean-presidents-all-seem-end-dead-or-court-874613|title = Most South Korean leaders have faced turbulent downfalls—Park Geun-hye is no exception|website = [[Newsweek]]|date = 6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/10/the-south-korean-presidency-isnt-cursed-it-just-needs-to-be-reformed/|title = The South Korean Presidency Isn't Cursed. It Just Needs to be Reformed |website=The Diplomat |date=October 12, 2018 |first1=Kyle |last1=Ferrier}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiaone.com/asia/park-geun-hye-stripped-all-presidential-perks-move-out-blue-house-immediately|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511121342/http://www.asiaone.com/asia/park-geun-hye-stripped-all-presidential-perks-move-out-blue-house-immediately|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 May 2017|title=Park Geun-hye stripped of all presidential perks, to move out of Blue House immediately|date=10 March 2017|publisher=asiaone.com|access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref>

==Order of succession==
{{See also|Cabinet of South Korea}}
{{Presidential orders of succession}}
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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yoon |first=Chang-hee |script-title=ko:대통령 탄핵시 대행 순위는? |url=https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=3383860 |date=2016-11-25 |access-date=2021-02-06 |work=[[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]]|language=Korean}}</ref>

==Symbols==
The primary symbols of the president are the seal, used to authenticate official acts, and the standard, which is flown when the president is present. 
<gallery>
File:Flag of the President of South Korea.svg|Presidential standard
File:Seal_of_the_President_of_South_Korea.svg|Presidential seal
File:Provisional emblem of the Office of the President of South Korea.svg|The emblem of the Office of the President, used since 2025, depicting [[Cheong Wa Dae]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Da-gyum |first1=Ji |title='Blue House' emblem revived as Lee's return nears |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10508961 |access-date=25 October 2025 |work=The Korea Herald |date=13 June 2025}}</ref>
Seal of the President of the Republic of Korea.svg|Emblem occasionally used by the president. The two phoenxies around a [[rose of sharon]] was formally introduced as a presidential symbol in 1967, but had been used unofficially as early as 1955. It has appeared on various presidential emblems, including the emblem of the presidential office from 2022 to 2025,<ref>{{cite news |title=New emblem of presidential office |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/PYH20221023075800320 |access-date=26 October 2025 |agency=Yonhap News Agency |date=23 October 2022}}</ref> and the above circular emblem which appears on podiums. This emblem is sometimes erroneously referred to as a seal.
</gallery>

== Timeline of presidents ==
{{Main|List of presidents of South Korea}}

{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2| Ideology
! <abbr title="Number of presidents">#</abbr>
! Time in office
! Name(s)
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}" |
| [[Conservatism in South Korea|Conservative]]
| style="text-align: center;" |9
| style="text-align: center;" |{{#expr:
{{age in days|day1=24|month1=7|year1=1948|day2=26|month2=4|year2=1960}} + 1 + <!-- 1: Syngman Rhee -->
{{age in days|day1=24|month1=3|year1=1962|day2=26|month2=10|year2=1979}} + 1 + <!-- 3: Park Chung Hee -->
{{age in days|day1=26|month1=10|year1=1979|day2=16|month2=8|year2=1980}} + 1 + <!-- 4: Choi Kyu-hah -->
{{age in days|day1=1|month1=9|year1=1980|day2=24|month2=2|year2=1988}} + 1 + <!-- 5: Chun Doo-hwan -->
{{age in days|day1=25|month1=2|year1=1988|day2=24|month2=2|year2=1993}} + 1 + <!-- 6: Roh Tae-woo -->
{{age in days|day1=25|month1=2|year1=1993|day2=24|month2=2|year2=1998}} + 1 + <!-- 7: Kim Young-sam -->
{{age in days|day1=25|month1=2|year1=2008|day2=24|month2=2|year2=2013}} + 1 + <!-- 10: Lee Myung-bak -->
{{age in days|day1=25|month1=2|year1=2013|day2=10|month2=3|year2=2017}} + 1 + <!-- 11: Park Geun-hye -->
{{age in days|day1=10|month1=5|year1=2022|day2=4|month2=4|year2=2025}} <!-- 13: Yoon Suk Yeol -->
}} days
| [[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]]
|-
| style="background: {{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}};" |
| [[Liberalism in South Korea|Liberal]]
| style="text-align: center;" |5
| style="text-align: center;" |{{#expr:
{{age in days|day1=13|month1=8|year1=1960|day2=24|month2=3|year2=1962}} + 1 + <!-- 2: Yun Po-sun -->
{{age in days|day1=25|month1=2|year1=1998|day2=24|month2=2|year2=2003}} + 1 + <!-- 8: Kim Dae-jung -->
{{age in days|day1=25|month1=2|year1=2003|day2=24|month2=2|year2=2008}} + 1 + <!-- 9: Roh Moo-hyun -->
{{age in days|day1=10|month1=5|year1=2017|day2=9|month2=5|year2=2022}} + 1 + <!-- 12: Moon Jae-in -->
{{age in days|day1=4|month1=6|year1=2025}} + 1 <!-- 14: Lee Jae Myung -->
}} days{{efn|As of {{TODAY}}.|name=as of}}
| [[Kim Dae-jung]], '''[[Lee Jae Myung]] (incumbent)''', [[Moon Jae-in]], [[Roh Moo-hyun]], and [[Yun Po-sun]]
|-
|}

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  from: 24/07/1948 till: 26/04/1960 color:con text:"[[Syngman Rhee]]" fontsize : 10
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  from: 13/08/1960 till: 24/03/1962 color:lib text:"[[Yun Po-sun]]" fontsize:10
 bar:ParkCH
  from: 24/03/1962 till: 26/10/1979 color:con text:"[[Park Chung Hee]]" fontsize:10
 bar:Choi
  from: 26/10/1979 till: 16/08/1980 color:con text:"[[Choi Kyu-hah]]" fontsize:10
 bar:Chun
  from: 27/08/1980 till: 24/02/1988 color:con text:"[[Chun Doo-hwan]]" fontsize:10
 bar:RohTW
  from: 25/02/1988 till: 24/02/1993 color:con text:"[[Roh Tae-woo]]" fontsize:10
 bar:KimYS
  from: 25/02/1993 till: 24/02/1998 color:con text:"[[Kim Young-sam]]" fontsize:10
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  from: 25/02/1998 till: 24/02/2003 color:lib text:"[[Kim Dae-jung]]" fontsize:10
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  from: 25/02/2003 till: 24/02/2008 color:lib text:"[[Roh Moo-hyun]]" fontsize:10
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  from: 25/02/2008 till: 24/02/2013 color:con text:"[[Lee Myung-bak]]" fontsize:10
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  from: 25/02/2013 till: 10/03/2017 color:con text:"[[Park Geun-hye]]" fontsize:10
 bar:Moon
  from: 10/05/2017 till: 10/05/2022 color:lib text:"[[Moon Jae-in]]" fontsize:10
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  from: 10/05/2022 till: 04/04/2025 color :con text:"[[Yoon Suk Yeol]]" fontsize:10
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  from: 04/06/2025 till: $now color:lib text:"[[Lee Jae Myung]]" fontsize:10

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  pos:(180,85) textcolor:black  fontsize:S  text:"[[Supreme Council for National Reconstruction|Junta]]"
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  pos:(320,100) textcolor:black  fontsize:S  text:"[[Fourth Republic of Korea|Fourth Republic]]"
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<gallery class="center">
File:Rhee Syng-Man in 1948.jpg|1st: '''[[Syngman Rhee]]'''<br /><small>1st, 2nd & 3rd terms<br />(served: 1948–1960)</small>
File:Yun Po-sun (3x4 cropped).jpg|2nd: '''[[Yun Po-sun]]'''<br /><small> 4th term<br />(served: 1960–1962)</small>
File:Park Chung Hee (박정희) Presidential Portrait.jpg|3rd: '''[[Park Chung Hee]]'''<br /><small>5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th terms<br />(served: 1963–1979)</small>
File:Presidents of the Republic Of Korea (4261836786) Choi.jpg|4th: '''[[Choi Kyu-hah]]'''<br /><small>10th term<br />(served: 1979–1980)</small>
File:Chun Doo-hwan (전두환) Presidential Portrait.jpg|5th: '''[[Chun Doo-hwan]]'''<br /><small>11th & 12th terms<br />(served: 1980–1988)</small>
File:Roh Tae-woo - cropped, 1989-Mar-13.jpg|6th: '''[[Roh Tae-woo]]'''<br /><small> 13th term<br />(served: 1988–1993)</small>
File:Kim Young-sam presidential portrait.jpg|7th: '''[[Kim Young-sam]]'''<br /><small>14th term<br />(served: 1993–1998)</small>
File:Kim Dae-jung presidential portrait.jpg|8th: '''[[Kim Dae-jung]]'''<br /><small>15th term<br />(served: 1998–2003)</small>
File:Roh Moo-hyun presidential portrait.jpg|9th: '''[[Roh Moo-hyun]]'''<br /><small>16th term<br />(served: 2003–2008{{efn|[[Goh Kun]] served as acting president during Roh's suspension from 12 March 2004 to 14 May 2004.}})</small>
File:Lee Myung-bak presidential portrait.jpg|10th: '''[[Lee Myung-bak]]'''<br /><small>17th term<br />(served: 2008–2013)</small>
File:Park Geun-hye presidential portrait.png|11th: '''[[Park Geun-hye]]'''<br /><small>18th term<br />(served: 2013–2017{{efn|[[Hwang Kyo-ahn]] served as acting president during Park's suspension from 9 December 2016 to 10 May 2017.}})</small>
File:Moon Jae-in (2017-10-01) cropped.jpg|12th: '''[[Moon Jae-in]]'''<br /><small>19th term<br />(served: 2017–2022)</small>
File:South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol portrait.jpg|13th: '''[[Yoon Suk Yeol]]'''<br /><small>20th term<br />(served: 2022–2025{{efn|[[Han Duck-soo]] served as acting president from 14 December 2024 to his own impeachment on 27 December 2024. [[Choi Sang-mok]] served as acting president from 27 December 2024 to 24 March 2025 during Han's impeachment trial. Han was reinstated as acting president on 24 March 2025 after his impeachment was overturned, and the court upheld the impeachment of Yoon in a unanimous decision on 4 April 2025, removing Yoon from office. Han resigned on 1 May 2025 and since then [[Lee Ju-ho]] served as acting president until the election of [[Lee Jae Myung]] on 4 June 2025.}})</small>
File:President Lee Jae-myung 2025 (cropped).jpg|14th: '''[[Lee Jae Myung]]'''<br /><small>21st term<br />(serving: 2025–present)</small>  
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|South Korea}}
*[[2025 South Korean presidential election]]
* [[First Lady of South Korea]]
* [[List of international trips made by presidents of South Korea]]
* [[Supreme Leader (North Korean title)|List of leaders of North Korea]]
* [[List of official vehicles of the president of South Korea]]
* [[List of presidents of South Korea]]
* [[List of presidents of South Korea by time in office]]
* [[Presidential elections in South Korea]]
* [[Transportation of the president of South Korea]]
* [[Vice President of South Korea]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/60.htm U.S. Library of Congress Country Studies]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Presidents of South Korea}}
* {{Official website|http://eng.president.go.kr/}} {{in lang|en}}
* {{Official website|http://www.president.go.kr/}} {{in lang|ko}}

{{Presidents of South Korea}}
{{Heads of state and government of Asia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Presidents of South Korea| ]]
[[Category:1948 establishments in South Korea]]