List of leaders of South Korea
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{{hatnote|To avoid confusion, all the names on this list follow the Eastern order convention (family name first, given name second) for consistency.}}
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| image1 = Rhee Syng-Man in 1948.jpg
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| image3 = Roh Tae-woo - cropped, 1989-Mar-13.jpg
| image4 = Lee Ju-ho Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education 20241203.jpg
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| Top left: Rhee Syng-man became the first president of the Republic of Korea in 1948.
| Top right: Park Chung Hee was the longest-serving president, taking power during the 1961 coup d'etat, sometimes named the Tiger of Yushin Constitution in the 1970s.
| Bottom left: Roh Tae-woo was elected during the 1987 presidential election, started the current Sixth Republic.
| Bottom right: Lee Ju-ho is the incumbent acting president.}}
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The president of the Republic of Korea serves as the chief executive of the government of the Republic of Korea and the commander-in-chief of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.
The South Korean government constitutionally considers the Korean Provisional Government (KPG) to be its predecessor.{{cite web|url=http://sthelepress.com/index.php/2018/02/21/constitutional-reform-and-inter-korean-relations-part-2-b-r-myers/|title=Constitutional Reform and Inter-Korean Relations: Part 2|first=Brian Reynolds|last=Myers|author-link=Brian Reynolds Myers|work=Sthele Press|access-date=25 June 2019|date=21 February 2018}} The KPG was established in 1919 as a government in exile in Shanghai during the Japanese occupation of Korea. It had nine different heads of state between September 1919 and August 1948.
Under the 1988 Constitution of the Sixth Republic of Korea, the presidential term is set at five years with no re-election. The president must be a South Korean citizen, at least 40 years old, who has lived in South Korea for 5 years.{{cite web |title=Constitution of the Republic of Korea |url=https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1948/en/19949 |publisher=Government of South Korea |via=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |access-date=5 December 2024}} The term was previously set at four years during the First Republic from 1948 to 1960, including a two-term limit that was repealed in 1954. The presidency was changed into a ceremonial role elected by legislators to five-year terms during the Second Republic from 1960 to 1963. The Third Republic returned the presidency to a directly-elected position with a four-year term in 1963 and repealed the two-term limit in 1969. Under the Yushin Constitution of the Fourth Republic adopted in 1972, the presidency became an indirectly elected position with six-year terms and no limits to re-election. It was replaced with a seven-year term under the Fifth Republic in 1981, which retained the indirect elections but prohibited a second term.{{cite book |last=Yap |first=Fiona |editor-last1=Baturo |editor-first1=Alexander |editor-last2=Elgie |editor-first2=Robert |year=2019 |title=The Politics of Presidential Term Limits |chapter=Term Limits in South Korea: Promises and Perils |pages=451–458 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |doi=10.1093/oso/9780198837404.003.0022 |chapter-url=https://academic.oup.com/book/35074/chapter-abstract/299063294 |chapter-url-access=subscription |isbn=9780198837404 |oclc=1076408966}}
{{as of|2024}}, thirteen people have served in full capacity as president of South Korea{{cite news |last=Morris-Grant |first=Brianna |date=3 December 2024 |title=South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol could be facing impeachment after martial law declaration — here's what that process looks like |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-04/south-korea-impeachment-yoon-suk-yeol-explained/104683820 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=5 December 2024}} since the office was formally established on 24 July 1948, when Syngman Rhee took office after being elected by the Constituent National Assembly. The longest-serving president is Park Chung Hee, who held the office for 18 years from a 1961 coup until his assassination in 1979 following a period of authoritarian rule.{{cite news |last=Gan |first=Nectar |date=4 December 2024 |title=The troubled history of martial law, coups and toppled presidents many hoped South Korea had left behind |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/04/asia/south-korea-yoon-impeachment-presidents-fate-intl-hnk/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=5 December 2024}} The first and only woman to hold the presidency was his daughter Park Geun-hye, who was elected in 2012 and removed from office in 2017 after her impeachment was upheld by the Constitutional Court of Korea.{{cite news |author=Choe Sang-hun |date=9 March 2017 |title=South Korea Removes President Park Geun-hye |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/world/asia/park-geun-hye-impeached-south-korea.html |work=The New York Times |url-access=limited |access-date=5 December 2024}}
Yoon Suk Yeol assumed office on 10 May 2022 and was impeached by the National Assembly on 14 December 2024 following his martial law declaration. His powers were suspended until his impeachment was upheld by the Constitutional Court on 4 April 2025, which formally ended Yoon's presidency.{{cite news |author=Jung Min-kyung |date=4 April 2025 |title=Yoon Suk Yeol: From star prosecutor to ousted president |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10458025 |work=The Korea Herald |access-date=19 April 2025}}{{cite news |last=Mackenzie |first=Jean |date=4 April 2025 |title=South Korea's president has been removed from power: What happens now? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz01mjv0v0go |publisher=BBC News |access-date=19 April 2025}} During the suspension of his powers, the prime minister served as acting president; prime minister Han Duck-soo was himself impeached from the acting presidency on 27 December 2024 and replaced by deputy prime minister Choi Sang-mok, who became acting president.{{cite news |last1=Harvey |first1=Lex |last2=Seo |first2=Yoonjung |last3=Bae |first3=Gawon |date=27 December 2024 |title=South Korean parliament votes to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/27/asia/south-korea-impeachment-vote-acting-president-intl-hnk/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=27 December 2024}} Han Duck-soo was reinstated by the Constitutional Court on 24 March 2025.{{cite news |last=Wong |first=Tessa |date=23 March 2025 |title=South Korea court reinstates PM as acting leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c625jkyrx6do |publisher=BBC News |access-date=24 March 2025}} The next president will be decided by a presidential election, scheduled for 3 June 2025—within the 60-day window required by the constitution.{{cite news |author=Choe Sang-Hun |date=7 April 2025 |title=South Korea Sets New Presidential Election for June 3 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/world/asia/south-korea-election.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=19 April 2025}}
List of heads of state of the Provisional Government
=Heads of governments proclaimed after the March 1st Movement (1919)=
Following the March 1st Movement with the Declaration of Independence, several groups within Korea and the Korean diaspora proclaimed the establishment of republican governments, claiming to be the representation of the Korean people. Three of these proclaimed governments remained active in the months thereafter and amalgamated to form the unified Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
Four other governments were proclaimed in the aftermaths of the March 1st Movement but these did not have significant activity following the proclamation.
- The Provisional Government of the Republic of Chosun (조선민국임시정부) proclaimed in Seoul on 19 April 1919: President (정도령) Son Byong-hi
- The Government of the Republic of New Korea (신한민국정부) proclaimed in Northwestern Korea including Pyongyang on 17 April 1919: Consul (집정관) Lee Dong-hwi
- The Government of the Korean Republic (고려공화국정부) proclaimed in Manchuria in early 1919
- The Provisional Government in Gando (간도임시정부) proclaimed in Jilin in early 1919
There was a further plan to proclaim The Korean Civil Government (대한민간정부) on 1 April 1919 with Son Byong-hi as the President (대통령) in the anticipation of the success of the March 1st Movement; the planned proclamation was not distributed.
==Consul-President of the Great Korean Republic (Seoul Government)==
The Great Korean Republic (대조선공화국) was proclaimed in Seoul on April 23, 1919, by 24 representatives gathered from 13 provinces of Korea. It is commonly known as the Seoul Government (한성정부). Syngman Rhee was elected by the assembled representatives as the Consul-President (집정관총재). Rhee sent letters to foreign heads of state including those of the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom notifying these countries of the proclamation of the Republic and his election as the President. It was agreed at the time of the amalgamation with the Governments of Shanghai and Vladivostok that the new unified Provisional Government is the successor government of the legitimacy of the Seoul Government.
| class="wikitable" width="100%"
!align=left width=10 |{{Abbr|No.|Number}} !width=100 |Portrait !width=200 |Name !align=center colspan=2 width=40% |Term of Office !align=left width=30% |Deputy |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|1}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Rhee Syngman |{{small|23 April}} |{{small|11 September}} |align=left | Premier-President Lee Dong-hwi |
| colspan=3 |{{small|Also the Head of the Shanghai Government as the Chancellor and the Prime Minister of the Vladivostok Government under President Son Byong-hi before the amalgamation of the governments. Became President of the unified Provisional Government on 11 September 1919 but impeached in 1925. Chairman of the State Council of the Provisional Government (1947-1948). President of South Korea (1948-1960)}} |
==Prime Ministers of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (Shanghai Government)==
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (대한민국 임시정부) was established in Shanghai on 11 April 1919 as a result of the first meeting of the Provisional Assembly from the previous night (10 April 1919). Syngman Rhee was elected as the Prime Minister (국무총리). The Government was amalgamated with the Governments proclaimed in Seoul and Vladivostok on 11 September 1919 to form the unified Provisional Government.
| class="wikitable" width="100%"
!align=left width=10 |{{Abbr|No.|Number}} !width=100 |Portrait !width=200 |Name !align=center colspan=2 width=40% |Term of Office !align=left width=30% |Deputy |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|1}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Rhee Syngman |{{small|11 April}} |{{small|23 April}} |align=left | |
| colspan=3 |{{small|Also Head of State of the Seoul Government as the Consul-President and the Prime Minister of the Vladivostok Government under President Son Byong-hi before the amalgamation of the governments. Became President of the unified Provisional Government on 11 September 1919 but impeached in 1925. Chairman of the State Council of the Provisional Government (1947-1948). President of South Korea (1948-1960)}} |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|2}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Yi Dong-nyeong |{{small|23 April}} |{{small|28 June}} |align=left | |
| colspan=3 |{{small|Later served for twelve years over four different periods as Head of State of the unified Provisional Government. Died in office in 1940}} |
| align=center colspan=6 style=background:#EEEEEE; |From 28 June 1919 until 27 August 1919, Director-General of the Interior Ahn Chang Ho (안창호 / 安昌浩) was Acting Chancellor. |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|3}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | File:이동휘.JPG |align=center rowspan=2 |Yi Dong-hwi |{{small|27 August}} |{{small|11 September}} |align=left | |
| colspan=3 |{{small|Continued to serve as Prime Minister of the Unified Provisional Government after September 1919 under President Syngman Rhee}} |
==President of the National Parliament of Korea (Vladivostok Government)==
The National Parliament of Korea (대한국민의회) was proclaimed in Vladivostok on 17 March 1919 by the Korean diaspora living in Primorsky Krai, as the re-organisation of the Korean Central General Assembly (한족중앙총회). Son Byong-hi, the leader of 33 representatives who signed the Korean Declaration of Independence on 1 March 1919, was elected as the President. The government was amalgamated with the governments proclaimed in Seoul and Shanghai on 11 September 1919.
| class="wikitable" width="100%"
!align=left width=10 |{{Abbr|No.|Number}} !width=100 |Portrait !width=200 |Name !align=center colspan=2 width=40% |Term of Office !align=left width=30% |Deputy |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|1}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Son Byong-hi |{{small|17 March}} |{{small|11 September}} |align=left | Vice President Park Young-ho |
| colspan=3 |{{small|Leader of the 33 representatives who signed the Korean Declaration of Independence during the March 1st Movement. Head of Cheondogyo (1897-1908). He was in Japanese custody throughout the term as President, having been arrested in the March 1st Movement.}} |
=Heads of state of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (1919-1948)=
Three of the Governments proclaimed in 1919 continued to be active in the months after the March 1st Movement; the Governments proclaimed in Seoul, Shanghai and Vladivostok. After a period of negotiations, members of these three governments agreed to form the unified Provisional Government in Shanghai, with succession of the legitimacy of the Seoul Government and bringing the members of the Vladivostok legislature into the Shanghai legislature. The unified Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was established on 11 September 1919 with a new constitution.
The forms of the government from September 1919 were:
- Prime minister (국무총리제): 1919
- Presidency (대통령제): 1919–1925
- Presidency of the Governance (국무령제): 1925–1927
- State Council (국무위원제): 1927–1940
- Chairpersonship of the State Affairs Commission (국무위원회 주석제): 1940–1948
In total, nine people served twenty-four terms as heads of states of the Provisional Government between September 1919 and August 1948, when the last Chairman of the State Council Syngman Rhee became the first President of South Korea.
| class="wikitable" width="100%"
!align=left width=10 |{{Abbr|No.|Number}} !width=100 |Portrait !width=200 width=20% |Name !align=left width=3% |Term !align=center colspan=2 width=15% |Term of Office !align=left width=15% |Political Party !align=left width=20% | Deputy |
| colspan=8 style=background-color:#C0C0C0; |Presidents (대통령) |
| align=center rowspan=5 |{{color|black|1}}
|align=center rowspan=5 | 100px |align=center rowspan=5 |Rhee Syng-man |align=center |{{color|black|1}} |width=10% |{{small|11 September}} |width=10% |1922 |align=center rowspan=2 | |align=left rowspan=4 |Prime Minister |
| align=center |{{color|black|2}}
|width=10% |1922 |width=10% |{{small|23 March}} |
| align=center colspan=4 style=background:#EEEEEE; |From 6 June 1924 until 11 December 1924, Prime Minister Yi Dong-nyeong (이동녕 / 李東寧) served as the Acting President for Syngman Rhee. |
| align=center colspan=4 style=background:#EEEEEE; |From 11 December 1924 until 23 March 1925, Prime Minister Park Eun-sik (박은식 / 朴殷植) served as the Acting President for Syngman Rhee. |
| colspan=5 |{{small|First President of the unified Provisional Government. Previously the Consul-President of the Seoul Government and Chancellor of the Shanghai Government, and Prime Minister under President Son Byong-hi of the Vladivostok Government. Impeached in 1925. Later became the last chairman of the State Council (1947) before becoming the first Speaker of the Constituent Assembly and then the first President of the Republic of Korea (1948-1960). The first Korean to earn a Ph.D. from a university of the Western world (Princeton) in 1910. Forced to resign in the April Revolution of 1960 and died in exile in Hawaii in 1965}} |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|2}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Park Eun-sik |align=center |{{color|black|3}} |width=10% |{{small|23 March}} |width=10% |{{small|7 April}} |align=center | |align=left |Prime Minister |
| colspan=5 |{{small|Elected after the impeachment of Syngman Rhee; the constitutional amendment of 1925}} |
| colspan=8 style=background-color:#C0C0C0; |Presidents of Governance (국무령) |
| align=center rowspan=3 |{{color|black|(2)}}
|align=center rowspan=3 | 100px |align=center rowspan=3 |Park Eun-sik |align=center |{{color|black|4}} |width=10% |{{small|7 April}} |width=10% |{{small|26 September}} |align=center | |align=left rowspan=2 |Prime Minister |
| align=center colspan=4 style=background:#EEEEEE; |During September 1925, Director-General of the Interior Lee Yu-pil (이유필 / 李裕弼) served as the Acting President. |
| colspan=5 |{{small|Died two months after leaving office}} |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|3}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Yi Sang-ryong |align=center |{{color|black|5}} |width=10% |{{small|26 September}} |width=10% |{{small|18 February}} |align=center | |align=center | |
| colspan=5 |{{small|Resigned due to difficulties forming a cabinet}} |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|4}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | File:Yang Gi-tak (양기탁) Prison Record (1919) (cropped).jpg |align=center rowspan=2 |Yang Gi-tak |align=center |{{color|black|6}} |width=10% |{{small|18 February}} |width=10% |{{small|29 April}} |align=left | The Revolutionary Party of Korea (고려혁명당) |align=center | |
| colspan=5 |{{small|Resigned}} |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|5}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Yi Dong-nyeong |align=center |{{color|black|7}} |width=10% |{{small|29 April}} |width=10% |{{small|3 May}} |align=center | |align=center | |
| colspan=5 |{{small|Resigned}} |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|6}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Ahn Chang Ho |align=center |{{color|black|8}} |width=10% |{{small|3 May}} |width=10% |{{small|16 May}} |align=center | |align=center | |
| colspan=5 |{{small|Resigned due to difficulties forming a cabinet}} |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|(5)}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Yi Dong-nyeong |align=center |{{color|black|9}} |width=10% |{{small|16 May}} |width=10% |{{small|7 July}} |align=center | |align=center | |
| colspan=5 |{{small|Resigned}} |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|7}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Hong Jin |align=center |{{color|black|10}} |width=10% |{{small|7 July}} |width=10% |{{small|14 December}} |align=center | |align=center | |
| colspan=5 |{{small|Resigned due to conflict within the Korean resistance. Also served as Speaker of the Provisional Assembly}} |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|8}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Kim Ku |align=center |{{color|black|11}} |width=10% |{{small|14 December}} |width=10% |{{small|11 April}} |align=center | |align=center | |
| colspan=5 |{{small|Constitutional amendment of 1927}} |
| colspan=8 style=background-color:#C0C0C0;| Chairpersons of the State Council (국무회의 주석) |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|(8)}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Kim Ku |align=center |{{color|black|12}} |width=10% |{{small|11 April}} |width=10% |{{small|18 August}} |align=center | |align=center | |
| colspan=5 |{{small|First Chairman of the State Council Directory under the Constitution of 1927, where the chairperson is the first among equals in the directory of state councillors}} |
| align=center rowspan=3 |{{color|black|(5)}}
|align=center rowspan=3 | 100px |align=center rowspan=3 |Yi Dong-nyeong |align=center |{{color|black|13}} |width=10% |{{small|19 August}} |width=10% |{{small|October}} |align=left rowspan=2| Korean Independence Party (한국독립당) |align=center | |
| align=center |{{color|black|14}}
|width=10% |{{small|October}} |width=10% |{{small|5 March}} |align=left | President of Governance |
| colspan=5 | {{small|First person to have served longer than a year since 1925}} |
| align=center rowspan=3 |{{color|black|9}}
|align=center rowspan=3 | 100px |align=center rowspan=3 |Song Byeong-jo |align=center |{{color|black|15}} |width=10% |{{small|5 March}} |width=10% |{{small|24 June}} |align=center | |align=left rowspan=2| President of Governance |
| align=center |{{color|black|16}}
|width=10% |{{small|24 June}} |width=10% |{{small|October}} |
| colspan=5 | {{small|Also served as Speaker of the Provisional Assembly}} |
| align=center rowspan=4 |{{color|black|(5)}}
|align=center rowspan=4 | 100px |align=center rowspan=4 |Yi Dong-nyeong |align=center |{{color|black|17}} |width=10% |{{small|October}} |width=10% |{{small|October}} |align=left| Korean Independence Party (한국독립당) |align=left | President of Governance |
| align=center |{{color|black|18}}
|width=10% |{{small|October}} |width=10% |{{small|23 October}} |align=left rowspan=2| Korean National Party (한국국민당) |align=left | |
| align=center |{{color|black|19}}
|width=10% |{{small|23 October}} |width=10% |{{small|13 March}} |align=left | Chief of the Government Staff |
| colspan=5 | {{small|Died in office}} |
| align=center rowspan=2 |{{color|black|(8)}}
|align=center rowspan=2 | 100px |align=center rowspan=2 |Kim Ku |align=center |{{color|black|20}} |width=10% |{{small|13 March}} |width=10% |{{small|8 October}} |align=left| Korean Independence Party (한국독립당) |align=left | Chief of the Government Staff |
| colspan=5 | {{small|The Constitutional Amendment of 1940}} |
| colspan=8 style=background-color:#C0C0C0;| Chairpersons of the State Affairs Commission (국무위원회 주석) |
| align=center rowspan=3 |{{color|black|(8)}}
|align=center rowspan=3 | 100px |align=center rowspan=3 |Kim Ku |align=center |{{color|black|21}} |width=10% |{{small|9 October}} |width=10% |{{small|22 April}} |align=left rowspan=2| Korean Independence Party (한국독립당) |align=left rowspan=2| Deputy Chairman |
| align=center |{{color|black|22}}
|width=10% |{{small|26 April}} |width=10% |{{small|3 March}} |
| colspan=5 |{{small|Briefly resigned between 31 August and 21 September 1943. The Constitutional Amendment of 1944. Returned to Korea in 1945, after Japan was defeated in World War II}}{{Cite web |date=2007-10-07 |title=孫世一의 비교 評傳 (67) 한국 민족주의의 두 類型 - 李承晩과 金九 |url=http://monthly.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?ctcd=&nNewsNumb=200710100084 |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=Monthly Chosun |language=ko}} |
| align=center rowspan=3 |{{color|black|(1)}}
|align=center rowspan=3 | 100px |align=center rowspan=3 |Rhee Syngman |align=center |{{color|black|23}} |width=10% |{{small|3 March}} |width=10% |{{small|September}} |align=left rowspan=2| National Association for the Rapid Realisation of Korean Independence |align=left rowspan=2| Deputy Chairman |
| align=center |{{color|black|24}}
|width=10% |{{small|September}} |width=10% |{{small|15 August}} |
| colspan=5 | {{small|Previously the first President of the Provisional Government (1919-1925) before being impeached. Speaker of the Constituent Assembly in 1948. First President of South Korea (1948-1960)}} |
List of presidents
| class="toccolours" style="font-size:90%" width="260"
! Political parties |
| {{div col}}
{{legend|{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}|Conservative {{small|(current People Power Party)}}|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}|Liberal {{small|(current Democratic Party)}}|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|{{party color|Military}}|Military|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|Independent|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{div col end}} |
| Status |
|---|
| {{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting president|border=black}} |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" | {{abbr|No.|Number}} ! rowspan="2" | Portrait ! rowspan="2" width="20%" | Name ! colspan="3" | Term of office ! rowspan="2" | Political party ! rowspan="2" | Election |
| width="15%" | Took office
! width="15%" | Left office ! Time in office |
|---|
| colspan="8" | President under the United States Army Military Government in Korea |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 1
| 100px | Syngman Rhee | 24 July 1948 | 15 August 1948 | {{ayd|1948|07|24|1948|08|15}} | NARRKI |
| colspan="8" | Presidents of the First Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | (1)
| 100px | Syngman Rhee | 15 August 1948 | 26 April 1960{{efn|Rhee resigned following the April Revolution.}} | {{ayd|1948|08|15|1960|04|26}} | NARRKI Liberal 3rd (1956) March 1960 |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 100px | Ho Chong | 27 April 1960 | 15 June 1960 | {{ayd|1960|04|27|1960|06|15|duration=on}} | — |
| colspan="8" | Presidents of the Second Republic |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 100px | Ho Chong | 15 June 1960 | 15 June 1960 | {{ayd|1960|06|15|1960|06|15|duration=on}} | — |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | — | 100px | Kwak Sang-hoon | 16 June 1960 | 23 June 1960 | {{ayd|1960|06|16|1960|06|23}} | — |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 100px | Ho Chong | 23 June 1960 | 7 August 1960 | {{ayd|1960|06|23|1960|08|07|duration=on}} | rowspan="2" | Independent | — |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 100px | Baek Nak-jun | 8 August 1960 | 12 August 1960 | {{ayd|1960|08|08|1960|08|12|duration=on}} | — |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 2
| 100px | Yun Po-sun | 13 August 1960 | 16 May 1961 | {{ayd|1960|08|13|1961|05|16|duration=on}} | Democratic |
| colspan="8" | Presidents under the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction (SCNR) |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | (2)
| 100px | Yun Po-sun | 16 May 1961 | 24 March 1962{{efn|Yun resigned in the aftermath of the May 16 coup.}} | {{ayd|1961|05|16|1962|03|24|duration=on}} | Democratic New Democratic | — |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Military}};" | — | 100px | {{small|General}} | 24 March 1962 | 17 December 1963 | {{ayd|1962|03|24|1963|12|17|duration=on}} | Military Democratic Republican | — |
| colspan="8" | President of the Third Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 3
| 100px | Park Chung Hee | 17 December 1963 | 21 November 1972 | {{ayd|1963|12|17|1972|11|21|duration=on}} | Democratic Republican 6th (1967) 7th (1971) |
| colspan="8" | Presidents of the Fourth Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | (3)
| 100px | Park Chung Hee | 21 November 1972 | 26 October 1979{{efn|Park was assassinated by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu.}} | {{ayd|1972|11|21|1979|10|26|duration=on}} | Democratic Republican 9th (1978) |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | —
| rowspan="2" | 100px | rowspan="2" | Choi Kyu-hah | bgcolor="#E6E6AA" | 26 October 1979 | bgcolor="#E6E6AA" | 6 December 1979 | bgcolor="#E6E6AA" | {{ayd|1979|10|26|1979|12|06|duration=on}} | rowspan="2" | Independent | bgcolor="#E6E6AA" | — |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 4
| 6 December 1979{{efn|Chun Doo-hwan became de facto leader of the country in the aftermath of the Coup d'état of December Twelfth.}} | 16 August 1980{{efn|Choi resigned in the aftermath of the Coup d'état of May Seventeenth.}} | {{ayd|duration=yes|1979|12|06|1980|08|16}} |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | — | | Park Choong-hoon | 16 August 1980 | 1 September 1980 | {{ayd|1980|08|16|1980|09|01}} | Democratic Republican | — |
| style="background:{{party color|Military}};" | 5
| 100px | Chun Doo-hwan | 1 September 1980 | 24 February 1981 | {{ayd|1980|09|01|1981|02|24|duration=on}} | Military Democratic Justice {{small|(Hanahoe)}} |
| colspan="8" | President of the Fifth Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | (5)
| 100px | Chun Doo-hwan | 25 February 1981 | 24 February 1988 | {{age in years|1981|02|25|1988|02|24|duration=on}} years | Democratic Justice |
| colspan="8" | Presidents of the Sixth Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 6
| 100px | Roh Tae-woo | 25 February 1988 | 24 February 1993 | {{age in years|1988|02|25|1993|02|24|duration=on}} years | Democratic Justice Democratic Liberal {{small|(Hanahoe)}} Independent {{small|(Hanahoe)}} |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 7
| 100px | Kim Young-sam | 25 February 1993 | 24 February 1998 | {{age in years|1993|02|25|1998|02|24|duration=on}} years New Korea Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 8
| 100px | Kim Dae-jung | 25 February 1998 | 24 February 2003 | {{age in years|1998|02|25|2003|02|24|duration=on}} years Millennium Democratic Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 9
| 100px | Roh Moo-hyun | 25 February 2003 | 12 March 2004{{efn|name=Roh|Roh Moo-hyun was impeached by the National Assembly on 12 March 2004. Powers and duties were assumed by prime minister Goh Kun as acting president. Roh resumed his powers and duties on 14 May 2004, after the Constitutional Court struck down the motion to impeach.{{cite news |last=Faiola |first=Anthony |date=13 May 2004 |title=Court Rejects S. Korean President's Impeachment |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2004/05/14/court-rejects-s-korean-presidents-impeachment/917ed896-e2a3-4b62-ae16-b41d3d232f7f/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=5 December 2024}}}} | {{ayd|2003|02|25|2004|03|12|duration=on}} | Millennium Democratic Independent |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | — | 100px | Goh Kun | 12 March 2004{{efn|name=Roh}} | 14 May 2004 | {{ayd|2004|03|12|2004|05|14|duration=on}} | — |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | (9)
| 100px | Roh Moo-hyun | 14 May 2004 | 24 February 2008 | {{ayd|2004|05|14|2008|02|24|duration=on}} | Uri Independent | — |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 10
| 100px | Lee Myung-bak | 25 February 2008 | 24 February 2013 | {{age in years|2008|02|25|2013|02|24|duration=on}} years Saenuri |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 11
| 100px | Park Geun-hye | 25 February 2013 | 10 March 2017{{efn|name=Park|Park Geun-hye was impeached by the National Assembly on 9 December 2016. Powers and duties were assumed by prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn as acting president. Park was removed from office after the impeachment was upheld by the Constitutional Court on 10 March 2017.{{cite news |author=Choe Sang-hun |date=9 March 2017 |title=South Korea Removes President Park Geun-hye |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/world/asia/park-geun-hye-impeached-south-korea.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=5 December 2024}}{{cite news |date=30 March 2017 |title=Timeline: South Korea's impeached President Park Geun-hye |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/timeline-south-koreas-impeached-president-park-geun-hye-idUSKBN1710MC/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=5 December 2024}}}} | {{ayd|2013|02|25|2017|03|10|duration=on}} | Saenuri Liberty Korea |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 100px | Hwang Kyo-ahn | 9 December 2016{{efn|name=Park}} | 9 May 2017 | {{ayd|2016|12|09|2017|05|09|duration=on}} | Independent | — |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 12
| 100px | Moon Jae-in | 10 May 2017 | 9 May 2022 | {{age in years|2017|05|10|2022|05|09|duration=on}} years |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 13
| 100px | Yoon Suk Yeol | 10 May 2022 | 4 April 2025{{efn|name=Yoon|Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the National Assembly on 14 December 2024. Powers and duties were assumed by prime minister Han Duck-soo as acting president. Yoon was removed from office after the impeachment was upheld by the Constitutional Court on 4 April 2025.{{cite news |author=Jessie Yeung, Gawon Bae and Yoonjung Seo |date=14 December 2024 |title=South Korea's parliament votes to impeach president over martial law debacle |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/14/asia/south-korea-yoon-second-impeachment-hnk-intl/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=14 December 2024}}}} | {{ayd|2022|05|10|2025|04|04|duration=on}} |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 100px | Han Duck-soo | 14 December 2024{{efn|name=Yoon}} | 27 December 2024{{efn|name=Han1|Han Duck-soo assumed the role as acting president upon the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, but Han himself was impeached by the National Assembly on 27 December 2024. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, who is next in line to the succession took over both powers and duties as acting president and acting prime Minister.{{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 |work=BBC |access-date=27 December 2024}}}} | {{ayd|2024|12|14|2024|12|27|duration=on}} | Independent | — |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 100px | Choi Sang-mok | 27 December 2024{{efn|name=Han1}} | 24 March 2025{{efn|name=Han2|Han Duck-soo was reinstated by the Constitutional Court on 24 March 2025.{{cite news |date=27 December 2024 |title=South Korea court reinstates PM as acting leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c625jkyrx6do |work=BBC |access-date=24 March 2025}}}} | {{ayd|2024|12|27|2025|3|24|duration=on}} | Independent | — |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 100px | Han Duck-soo | 24 March 2025{{efn|name=Han2}} | 1 May 2025{{efn|Han resigned to run for president in the 2025 South Korean presidential election.}} | {{ayd|2025|3|24|2025|5|1|duration=on}} | Independent | — |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 100px | Lee Ju-ho | 2 May 2025{{efn|Choi Sang-mok was initially expected to assume the acting presidency and prime ministership again on 2 May, but he resigned on 1 May to avoid an impeachment vote by the National Assembly.{{Cite web |last=민경락 |title=[2보] 최상목 경제부총리, 탄핵안 상정 직후 사의 표명 |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/001/0015365010?sid=100 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=n.news.naver.com |language=ko}}}} | Incumbent | {{ayd|2025|5|2}} | Independent | — |
Timeline
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:15
PlotArea = top:10 bottom:120 right:100 left:20
AlignBars = late
Define $now = {{#time: d/m/Y }}
Colors =
id:Independent value:rgb(0.7,0.7,0.7) legend:Independent
id:Military value:rgb(0.76,0.69,0.57) legend:Military
id:NARRKI value:rgb(0.071,0.443,0.71) legend:National_Association
id:Liberal value:rgb(0.145,0.255,0.439) legend:Liberal_Party
id:Democratic value:rgb(0,0,0.502) legend:Democratic_Party_(1955)
id:DemRep value:rgb(0.514,0.357,0.22) legend:Democratic_Republican
id:DemJustice value:rgb(0.039,0.518,0.914) legend:Democratic_Justice
id:DemLib value:rgb(0,0.324,0.565) legend:Democratic_Liberal_/_New_Korea
id:NatCongress value:rgb(0,0.608,0.259) legend:National_Congress
id:Millenium value:rgb(0,0.667,0.482) legend:Millenium_Democratic
id:Uri value:rgb(1,0.843,0) legend:Uri
id:Saenuri value:rgb(0.753,0.098,0.125) legend:Grand_National_/_Saenuri_/_Liberty_Korea
id:DemKorea value:rgb(0,0.306,0.635) legend:Democratic_Party_of_Korea
id:PeoplePower value:rgb(0.902,0.118,0.169) legend:People_Power
id:act value:pink
id:gray1 value:gray(0.85)
id:gray2 value:gray(0.95)
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1948 till:31/12/{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+1}}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:5 start:1950
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:1948
Legend = columns:1 left:110 top:75 columnwidth:220
TextData =
pos:(20,77) textcolor:black fontsize:s
text:"Political affiliation:"
BarData =
bar:RheeSM
bar:Ho
bar:Kwak
bar:Baek
bar:Yun
bar:ParkCH
bar:Choi
bar:ParkC
bar:Chun
bar:RohTW
bar:KimYS
bar:KimDJ
bar:RohMH
bar:Goh
bar:LeeMB
bar:ParkGH
bar:Hwang
bar:Moon
bar:Yoon
bar:Han
bar:ChoiSM
bar:LeeJH
PlotData =
width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
bar:RheeSM
from: 24/07/1948 till: 17/12/1951 color:NARRKI
from: 17/12/1951 till: 26/04/1960 color:Liberal text:"Syngman Rhee"
bar:Ho
from: 27/04/1960 till: 15/06/1960 color:Independent
from: 23/06/1960 till: 07/08/1960 color:Independent text:"Ho Chong (acting)"
bar:Kwak
from: 16/06/1960 till: 23/06/1960 color:Democratic text:"Kwak Sang-hoon (acting)"
bar:Baek
from: 08/08/1960 till: 12/08/1960 color:Independent text:"Baek Nak-jun (acting)"
bar:Yun
from: 13/08/1960 till: 24/03/1962 color:Democratic text:"Yun Po-sun"
bar:ParkCH
from: 24/03/1962 till: 16/12/1963 color:Military
from: 16/12/1963 till: 26/10/1979 color:DemRep text:"Park Chung Hee"
bar:Choi
from: 26/10/1979 till: 16/08/1980 color:Independent text:"Choi Kyu-hah"
bar:ParkC
from: 16/08/1980 till: 01/09/1980 color:DemRep text:"Park Choong-hoon (acting)"
bar:Chun
from: 01/09/1980 till: 24/02/1981 color:Independent
from: 25/02/1981 till: 24/02/1988 color:DemJustice text:"Chun Doo-hwan"
bar:RohTW
from: 25/02/1988 till: 22/01/1990 color:DemJustice
from: 22/01/1990 till: 28/08/1992 color:DemLib
from: 28/08/1992 till: 24/02/1993 color:Independent text:"Roh Tae-woo"
bar:KimYS
from: 25/02/1993 till: 30/09/1997 color:DemLib
from: 30/09/1997 till: 24/02/1998 color:Independent text:"Kim Young-sam"
bar:KimDJ
from: 25/02/1998 till: 20/01/2000 color:NatCongress
from: 20/01/2000 till: 08/11/2001 color:Millenium
from: 08/11/2001 till: 24/02/2003 color:Independent text:"Kim Dae-jung"
bar:RohMH
from: 25/02/2003 till: 01/11/2003 color:Millenium
from: 01/11/2003 till: 20/08/2007 color:Uri
from: 20/08/2007 till: 24/02/2008 color:Independent text:"Roh Moo-hyun"
bar:Goh
from: 12/03/2004 till: 14/05/2004 color:Millenium text:"Goh Kun (acting)"
bar:LeeMB
from: 25/02/2008 till: 24/02/2013 color:Saenuri text:"Lee Myung-bak"
bar:ParkGH
from: 25/02/2013 till: 10/03/2017 color:Saenuri text:"Park Geun-hye"
bar:Hwang
from: 09/12/2016 till: 09/05/2017 color:Independent text:"Hwang Kyo-ahn (acting)"
bar:Moon
from: 10/05/2017 till: 09/05/2022 color:DemKorea text:"Moon Jae-in"
bar:Yoon
from: 10/05/2022 till: 04/04/2025 color:PeoplePower text:"Yoon Suk Yeol"
bar:Han
from: 14/12/2024 till: 27/12/2024 color:Independent
from: 24/03/2025 till: 01/05/2025 color:Independent text:"Han Duck-soo (acting)"
bar:ChoiSM
from: 27/12/2024 till: 24/03/2025 color:Independent text:"Choi Sang-mok (acting)"
bar:LeeJH
from: 02/05/2025 till: $now color:Independent text:"Lee Ju-ho (acting)"
}}
| class=wikitable |
| colspan=2| Ideology |
|---|
| style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}" | |
| style="background: {{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}};" |
| Liberal |
List of prime ministers
| class="toccolours" style="font-size:90%" width="250"
! Political parties |
| {{div col}}
{{legend|{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}|Conservative|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}|Liberal|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|{{party color|Military}}|Military|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|Independent|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{div col end}} |
| Status |
|---|
| {{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting prime minister|border=black}} |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}} ! rowspan="2" | Portrait ! rowspan="2" width="18%" | Name ! colspan="3" | Term of office ! rowspan="2" | Political party ! rowspan="2" | President |
| Took office
! Left office ! Time in office |
|---|
| colspan="8" | Prime minister under the United States Army Military Government in Korea |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 1
| 80px | Lee Beom-seok | 31 July 1948 | 15 August 1948 | {{ayd|1948|7|31|1948|8|15}} | Korean National Youth Association ! style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| colspan="8" | Prime ministers of the First Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | (1)
| 80px | Lee Beom-seok | 15 August 1948 | 20 April 1950 | {{ayd|1948|8|15|1950|4|20}} | Korean National Youth Association Independent ! rowspan="9" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 80px | Shin Song-mo | 21 April 1950 | 22 November 1950 | {{ayd|1950|4|21|1950|11|22}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 2
| 80px | Chang Myon | 23 November 1950 | 23 April 1952 | {{ayd|1950|11|23|1952|4|23}} | Liberal |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 80px | Ho Chong | 6 November 1951 | 9 April 1952 | {{ayd|1951|11|6|1952|4|9}} | Independent |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 80px | Yi Yun-yong | 24 April 1952 | 5 May 1952 | {{ayd|1952|4|24|1952|5|5}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 3
| 80px | Chang Taek-sang | 6 May 1952 | 5 October 1952 | {{ayd|1952|5|6|1952|10|5}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 4
| 80px | Paik Too-chin | 9 October 1952 | 17 June 1954 | {{ayd|1952|10|9|1954|6|17}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 5
| 80px | Pyon Yong-tae | 27 June 1954 | 28 November 1954 | {{ayd|1954|6|27|1954|11|28}} | Independent |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | | Baek Han-seong | 18 November 1954 | 28 November 1954 | {{ayd|1954|11|18|1954|11|28}} | Independent |
| colspan="8" | Post abolished (28 November 1954 – 27 April 1960) |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 80px | Ho Chong | 25 April 1960 | 15 June 1960 | {{ayd|1960|4|25|1960|6|15}} | Independent ! style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px 80px Ho Chong {{small|(acting)}} |
| colspan="8" | Prime ministers of the Second Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 6
| 80px | Ho Chong | 15 June 1960 | 18 August 1960 | {{ayd|1960|6|15|1960|8|18}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 7 (2) | 80px | Chang Myon | 19 August 1960 | 16 May 1961 | {{ayd|1960|8|19|1961|5|16}} |
| colspan="8" | Chief Cabinet Ministers of the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction{{Efn|Chief Cabinet Minister of the Military Revolutionary Committee until 20 May 1961.}} |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | (7) (2) | 80px | Chang Myon | 16 May 1961 | 17 May 1961 | {{ayd|1961|5|16|1961|5|17}} ! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Military rule}}; color:black" | —
| 80px | {{small|Chief of Staff of the Army}} | 20 May 1961 | 3 July 1961 | {{ayd|1961|5|20|1961|7|3}} | Military |
| style="background:{{party color|Military rule}}; color:black" | —
| 80px | {{small|Chief of Staff of the Army}} | 3 July 1961 | 16 June 1962 | {{ayd|1961|7|3|1962|6|16}} | Military |
| style="background:{{party color|Military rule}}; color:black" | —
| 80px | {{small|General}} | 18 June 1962 | 10 July 1962 | {{ayd|1962|6|18|1962|7|10}} | Military ! rowspan="2" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | —
| 80px | Kim Hyun-chul | 10 July 1962 | 17 December 1963 | {{ayd|1962|7|10|1963|12|17}} | Independent |
| colspan="8" | Prime ministers of the Third Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 8
| 80px | Choi Tu-son | 17 December 1963 | 9 May 1964 | {{ayd|1963|12|17|1964|5|9}} | Independent ! rowspan="4" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 9
| 80px | Chung Il-kwon | 10 May 1964 | 20 December 1970 | {{ayd|1964|5|10|1970|12|20}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 10 (4) | 80px | Paik Too-chin | 21 December 1970 | 3 June 1971 | {{ayd|1970|12|21|1971|6|3}} |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 11
| 80px | Kim Jong-pil | 4 June 1971 | 21 November 1972 | {{ayd|1971|6|4|1972|11|21}} | Democratic Republican |
| colspan="8" | Prime ministers of the Fourth Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 11 {{resize|70%|(cont'd.)}} | 80px | Kim Jong-pil | 21 November 1972 | 18 December 1975 | {{ayd|1972|11|21|1975|12|18}} | Democratic Republican ! rowspan="2" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 12
| 80px | Choi Kyu-hah | 19 December 1975 | 5 December 1979 | {{ayd|1975|12|19|1979|12|5}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 13
| 80px | Shin Hyun-hwak | 13 December 1979 | 21 May 1980 | {{ayd|1979|12|13|1980|5|21}} | Democratic Republican ! rowspan="2" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | — | | Park Choong-hoon | 22 May 1980 | 1 September 1980 | {{ayd|1980|5|22|1980|9|1}} | Democratic Republican |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 14
| 80px | Nam Duck-woo | 2 September 1980 | 2 March 1981 | {{ayd|1980|9|2|1981|3|2}} | Independent ! style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| colspan="8" | Prime ministers of the Fifth Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 14 {{resize|70%|(cont'd.)}} | 80px | Nam Duck-woo | 3 March 1981 | 3 January 1982 | {{ayd|1981|3|3|1982|1|3}} | Independent ! rowspan="8" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 15
| 80px | Yoo Chang-soon | 4 January 1982 | 24 June 1982 | {{ayd|1982|1|4|1982|6|24}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 16
| 80px | Kim Sang-hyup | 25 June 1982 | 14 October 1983 | {{ayd|1982|6|25|1983|10|14}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 17
| | Chin Iee-chong | 15 October 1983 | 18 February 1985 | {{ayd|1983|10|15|1985|2|18}} |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | — | | {{interlanguage link|Shin Byung-hyun|ko|신병현}} | 11 November 1984 | 18 February 1985 | {{ayd|1984|11|11|1985|2|18}} | Democratic Justice |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 18
| 80px | Lho Shin-yong | 19 February 1985 | 25 May 1987 | {{ayd|1985|2|19|1987|5|25}} | Democratic Justice |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | | {{interlanguage link|Lee Han-key|ko|이한기}} | 26 May 1987 | 13 July 1987 | {{ayd|1987|5|26|1987|7|13}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 19
| 80px | Kim Chung-yul | 14 July 1987 | 24 February 1988 | {{ayd|1987|7|14|1988|2|24}} | Independent |
| colspan="8" | Prime ministers of the Sixth Republic |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 20
| 80px | Lee Hyun-jae | 25 February 1988 | 4 December 1988 | {{ayd|1988|2|25|1988|12|4}} | Independent ! rowspan="5" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 21
| | Kang Young-hoon | 5 December 1988 | 26 December 1990 | {{ayd|1988|12|5|1990|12|26}} | Democratic Justice → |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 22
| | Ro Jai-bong | 27 December 1990 | 23 May 1991 | {{ayd|1990|12|27|1991|5|23}} | Democratic Liberal |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 23
| | Chung Won-shik | 24 May 1991 | 7 October 1992 | {{ayd|1991|5|24|1992|10|7}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 24
| 80px | Hyun Soong-jong | 8 October 1992 | 24 February 1993 | {{ayd|1992|10|8|1993|2|24}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 25
| {{CSS image crop |Image=Hwang-insung-archive-korea.jpg |bSize=400 |cWidth=80 |cHeight=110 |oTop=50 |oLeft=277}} | Hwang In-sung | 25 February 1993 | 16 December 1993 | {{ayd|1993|2|25|1993|12|16}} | Democratic Liberal ! rowspan="6" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 26
| 80px | Lee Hoi-chang | 17 December 1993 | 21 April 1994 | {{ayd|1993|12|17|1994|4|21}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 27
| | Lee Yung-dug | 22 April 1994 | 16 December 1994 | {{ayd|1994|4|22|1994|12|16}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 28
| 80px | Lee Hong-koo | 17 December 1994 | 17 December 1995 | {{ayd|1994|12|17|1995|12|17}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 29
| 80px | Lee Soo-sung | 18 December 1995 | 4 March 1997 | {{ayd|1995|12|18|1997|3|4}} |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 30
| 80px | Goh Kun | 5 March 1997 | 2 March 1998 | {{ayd|1997|3|5|1998|3|2}} | New Korea → |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 31 (11) | 80px | Kim Jong-pil | 3 March 1998 | 12 January 2000 | {{ayd|1998|3|3|2000|1|12}} ! rowspan="8" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 32
| | Park Tae-joon | 13 January 2000 | 18 May 2000 | {{ayd|2000|1|13|2000|5|18}} | United Liberal Democrats |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | | Lee Hun-jai | 19 May 2000 | 22 May 2000 | {{ayd|2000|5|19|2000|5|22}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 33
| {{CSS image crop |Image=Lee Han-Dong.jpg |bSize=150 |cWidth=80 |cHeight=110 |oTop=0 |oLeft=30}} | Lee Han-dong | 23 May 2000 | 10 July 2002 | {{ayd|2000|5|23|2002|7|10}} | United Liberal Democrats |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 80px | Chang Sang | 11 July 2002 | 31 July 2002 | {{ayd|2002|7|11|2002|7|31}} | Independent |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | | {{interlanguage link|Jeon Yun-churl|ko|전윤철}} | 31 July 2002 | 9 August 2002 | {{ayd|2002|7|31|2002|8|9}} | Independent |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 80px | Chang Dae-whan | 9 August 2002 | 10 September 2002 | {{ayd|2002|8|9|2002|9|10}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 34
| 80px | Kim Suk-soo | 10 September 2002 | 26 February 2003 | {{ayd|2002|9|10|2003|2|26}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 35 (30) | 80px | Goh Kun | 27 February 2003 | 24 July 2004 | {{ayd|2003|2|27|2004|7|24}} | Independent ! rowspan="7" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | | Lee Hun-jai | 25 July 2004 | 30 July 2004 | {{ayd|2004|7|25|2004|7|30}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 36
| 80px | Lee Hae-chan | 30 July 2004 | 15 March 2006 | {{ayd|2004|7|30|2006|3|15}} | Uri |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 80px | Han Duck-soo | 16 March 2006 | 19 April 2006 | {{ayd|2006|3|16|2006|4|19}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 37
| 80px | Han Myeong-sook | 20 April 2006 | 6 March 2007 | {{ayd|2006|4|20|2007|3|6}} | Uri |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | | {{interlanguage link|Kwon O-kyu|ko|권오규}} | 7 March 2007 | 2 April 2007 | {{ayd|2007|3|7|2007|4|2}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 38
| 80px | Han Duck-soo | 2 April 2007 | 29 February 2008 | {{ayd|2007|4|2|2008|2|29}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 39
| 80px | Han Seung-soo | 29 February 2008 | 28 September 2009 | {{ayd|2008|2|29|2009|9|28}} ! rowspan="4" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 40
| 80px | Chung Un-chan | 29 September 2009 | 11 August 2010 | {{ayd|2009|9|29|2010|8|11}} | Independent |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | — | 80px | Yoon Jeung-hyun | 11 August 2010 | 1 October 2010 | {{ayd|2010|8|11|2010|10|1}} | Grand National |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 41
| 80px | Kim Hwang-sik | 1 October 2010 | 26 February 2013 | {{ayd|2010|10|1|2013|2|26}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 42
| 80px | Chung Hong-won | 26 February 2013 | 16 February 2015 | {{ayd|2013|2|26|2015|2|16}} | Independent ! rowspan="4" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 43
| 80px | Lee Wan-koo | 17 February 2015 | 27 April 2015 | {{ayd|2015|2|17|2015|4|27}} | Saenuri |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | — | 80px | Choi Kyoung-hwan | 27 April 2015 | 18 June 2015 | {{ayd|2015|4|27|2015|6|18}} | Saenuri |
| style="height:25px;"
! rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 44 | rowspan="2" | 80px | rowspan="2" | Hwang Kyo-ahn | rowspan="2" | 17 June 2015 | rowspan="2" | 11 May 2017 | rowspan="2" | {{ayd|2015|6|17|2017|5|11}} | rowspan="2" | Independent |
| style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px Hwang Kyo-ahn {{small|(acting)}} |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | — | 80px | Yoo Il-ho | 11 May 2017 | 31 May 2017 | {{ayd|2017|5|11|2017|5|31}} ! rowspan="5" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 45
| 80px | Lee Nak-yon | 31 May 2017 | 14 January 2020 | {{ayd|2017|5|31|2020|1|14}} |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 46
| 80px | Chung Sye-kyun | 14 January 2020 | 16 April 2021 | {{ayd|2020|1|14|2021|4|16}} | Democratic |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 80px | Hong Nam-ki | 16 April 2021 | 13 May 2021 | {{ayd|2021|4|16|2021|5|13}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" | 47
| 80px | Kim Boo-kyum | 14 May 2021 | 11 May 2022 | {{ayd|2021|5|14|2022|5|11}} | Democratic |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" | — | 80px | Choo Kyung-ho | 12 May 2022 | 20 May 2022 | {{ayd|2022|5|12|2022|5|20}} ! rowspan="4" style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 48 (38) | 80px | Han Duck-soo | 21 May 2022 | 27 December 2024{{efn|Han was impeached by the National Assembly on 27 December 2024. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, who is next in line to the succession took over both powers and duties as acting prime minister and acting president.{{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 |work=BBC |access-date=27 December 2024}}}} | {{ayd|2022|5|21|2024|12|27}} | Independent |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 80px | Choi Sang-mok | 27 December 2024 | 24 March 2025 | {{ayd|2024|12|27|2025|3|24}} | Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | 48 (38) | 80px | Han Duck-soo | 24 March 2025{{efn|name=Han2}} | 1 May 2025{{efn|Han resigned to run for president in the 2025 South Korean presidential election.}} | {{ayd|2025|3|24|2025|5|1}} | Independent |
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"
! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | — | 80px | Lee Ju-ho | 2 May 2025{{efn|Choi Sang-mok was initially expected to assume the acting prime ministership and presidency again on 2 May, but he resigned on 1 May to avoid an impeachment vote by the National Assembly.{{Cite web |last=민경락 |title=[2보] 최상목 경제부총리, 탄핵안 상정 직후 사의 표명 |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/001/0015365010?sid=100 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=n.news.naver.com |language=ko}}}} | Incumbent | {{ayd|2025|5|2}} | Independent ! style="font-weight:normal;" | 60px |
List of vice presidents of South Korea
| class="toccolours" style="font-size:90%" width="250"
! Political parties |
| {{div col}}
{{legend|{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}|Conservative|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}|Liberal|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|Independent|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{div col end}} |
| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|No.|Number}} ! rowspan="2" |Portrait ! rowspan="2" |Name ! colspan="3" |Term of office ! rowspan="2" |Political party ! rowspan="2" |President |
| Took office
!Left office !Time in office |
|---|
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white" |1
|Yi Si-yeong (1868 –1953) |24 July 1948 |9 May 1951 |{{age in years and days nts|24 July 1948|9 May 1951}} ! rowspan="4" style="font-weight:normal;" | 120px |
| style="background:{{party color|Conservative (South Korea)}}; color:white"|2
|Kim Seong-su (1891 –1955) |17 May 1951 |29 May 1952 |{{age in years and days nts|17 May 1951|29 May 1952}} |Korea Democratic Party |
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|3
|Ham Tae-young (1873 –1964) |15 June 1952 |14 August 1956 |{{age in years and days nts|15 June 1952|14 August 1956}} |Independent |
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal (South Korea)}}; color:white" |4
|Chang Myon (1899 –1966) |15 August 1956 |23 April 1960 |{{age in years and days nts|15 August 1956|23 April 1960}} |
See also
{{Portal|South Korea}}
- Government of South Korea
- List of presidents of South Korea by age
- List of monarchs of Korea
- List of presidents of South Korea by time in office
- List of presidents of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
- List of prime ministers of South Korea
- Presidential elections in South Korea
- Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
- Vice President of South Korea
Notes
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=n}}