Political

Political system

The Republic of Korea (ROK) has a presidential system of government. Both the President and the National Assembly (the Korean parliament) are directly elected. The President (elected for a single five-year term) appoints the State Council (cabinet). Cabinet ministers are not normally members of the National Assembly, although it is possible to appoint MPs as Ministers. The National Assembly has 299 members elected for a four-year term. Following a parliamentary amendment in February 2008, 245 seats are filled by direct election, with the remaining 54 distributed between parties in proportion to their share of the direct vote.

The constitution

ROK's constitution became effective on 17 July 1948. The constitution protects basic human rights, but also various economic rights, such as the right to own property, the right (and duty) to work and the freedom of choice of occupation. The Constitution has been revised nine times.

National government

ROK has a democratic form of government based on the separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. The Government consists of three branches: the legislature, in the form of a unicameral National Assembly; the judiciary, consisting of district and appellate courts and the Constitutional Court; and the executive, headed by the President who is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.

Last election

The last Presidential election took place in December 2007. Lee Myung-bak (of the Grand National Party (GNP)) won 48.7% of the vote, followed by Chung Dong-young (then New United Democratic Party (UNDP) 26.1%; Lee Hoi-chang (Independent) 15.1%; other 10.1%. President Lee Myung-bak took office on 25 February 2008.

Next election

The next National Assembly election is scheduled for April 2008. Currently the United Democratic Party (UDP) holds 141 seats, followed by GNP 129 seats, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) with 9 seats, and other minor parties and Independents with 11 seats.

The UDP was formed in February 2008 by a merger between the United New Democratic Party and the Democratic Party. The GNP, previously known as the New Korea Party, was the ruling party under the Kim Young-sam Administration 1992-1997. The DLP was formed in 2000 and is Korea’s first labour-based party.

Head of State: Elected President Lee Myung-bak (since February 2008)

Head of Government: President Lee Myung-bak

Cabinet Ministers:

Prime Minister - Han Seung-soo

Minister of Strategy and Finance - Kang Man-soo

Minister of Education, Science and Technology - Kim Doh-yeon

Minister of Unification - Kim Ha-joong

Minister of Justice - Kim Kyung-han

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Yu Myung-hwan

Minister of National Defence - Lee Sang-hee

Minister of Knowledge Economy - Lee Youn-ho

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism - Yu In-chon

Minister of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs - Kim Soung-yee

Minister of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - Chung Woon-chun

Minister of Public Administration and Security - Won Se-hoon

Minister of Environment - Lee Man-eui

Minister of Labour - Lee Young-hui

Minister of Gender Equality- Byun Do-yoon

Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs - Chung Jong-hwan

Main Political Parties ( Headed by)

United Democratic Party (UDP) - Sohn Hak-kyu, Park Sang-cheon

Grand National Party - Kang Jae-seop

Democratic Labour Party - Cheon Young-se (acting)

Liberty Forward Party - Lee Hoi-chang, Shim Dae-pyung

Source: Ministry of Foriegn Affairs and Trade