| The Republic of Korea has a dual executive arrangement similar to that found in France, where a strong president and a weaker prime minister share executive power. In Korea's case, virtually all of the power is in the hands of the president. Since the early 90's, presidential power has slowly been devolving to the National Assembly, but the strong president remains a trademark of Korean politics, and will probably retain that status until well after the conflict with Pyongyang has ended.
THE PRESIDENTS
- Syngman Rhee, Liberal Party
Inaugurated May 31, 1948
- Ho Chong, Liberal Party
Inaugurated May 3, 1960
- Kwak Sang Hoon
Inaugurated June 15, 1960
- Ho Chong, Liberal Party
Re-inaugurated June 26, 1960
- Yun Bo Seon, New Democratic Party
Inaugurated August 13, 1960
Chairman of the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction (military rule), May 16, 1961
- Park Chung Hee, Democratic Republican Party
Chairman of the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction, March 24, 1962
Inaugurated president December 17, 1963
Assassinated October 26, 1979
- Choi Kyu Hah, Democratic Republican Party
Officially inaugurated December 6, 1979
- Park Choong Hoon
Assumed power in coup, August 16, 1980
- Chun Doo Hwan, Democratic Justice Party
Assumed power in another coup, September 1, 1980
Inaugurated President under civil rule, February 25, 1981
Sentenced to death, August 22, 1996 (later commuted to life imprisonment)
- Roh Tae Woo, Democratic Justice Party (Democratic Liberal Party)
Inaugurated February 25, 1988
Sentenced to 22 years in prison, August 22, 1996
- Kim Young Sam, Democratic Liberal Party (New Korea Party)
Inaugurated February 25, 1993
- Kim Dae Jung, National Congress for New Politics (Millennium Democratic Party)
Inaugurated February 25, 1998
- Roh Moo Hyun, Millennium Democratic Party
Elected December 20, 2002, inaugurated February 25, 2003
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