President of South Korea - wikipedia President of South Korea Head of state and of government of the Republic of Korea This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2013 ) President of the Republic of Korea 대한민국 대통령 Presidential Seal Presidential Standard Incumbent Moon Jae - in since 10 May 2017 Style Mr. President ( 대통령 님 ) ( informal ) His Excellency ( 대통령 각하 ) ( in international correspondence ) Member of State Council National Security Council National Unification Advisory Council Residence Blue House Seat Seoul, South Korea Appointer Direct popular vote Term length Five years Single term Constituting instrument Constitution of South Korea Inaugural holder Syngman Rhee Formation Provisional Government : 11 September 1919 First Republic : 24 July 1948 Salary ₩ 192,553,000 ( $172,000 ) Website ( in English ) english.president.go.kr ( in Korean ) president.go.kr South Korea This article is part of a series on the politics and government of the Republic of Korea Constitution Government President ( list ) Moon Jae - in Prime Minister ( list ) Lee Nak - yeon Deputy Prime Minister Kim Dong - yeon Kim Sang - gon State Council Presidential Secretariat National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee - sang List of members Judiciary Constitutional Court President : Lee Jin - sung Supreme Court Chief Justice : Kim Myeong - soo Elections National Election Commission Recent elections Presidential : 2007 2012 2017 Legislative : 2008 2012 2016 2020 Local : 2006 2014 2018 By - elections : 2011 2014 2018 Political parties Democratic Liberty Korea Party Bareun People 's Justice Related topics Korean reunification Korean conflict Sunshine Policy Administrative divisions Human rights Foreign relations Other countries Atlas The President of the Republic of Korea ( Hangul : 대한민국 대통령 ; Hanja : 大韓民國 大統領 ; RR : Daehan Minguk Daetongryeong ) is, according to the South Korean constitution, the chairperson of the cabinet, the chief executive of the government, commander - in - chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of South Korea. The Constitution 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 governments. The president is directly elected to a five - year term, with no possibility of re-election. 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 or other senior cabinet members in the order of priority as determined by law. While in office, the chief executive lives in Cheong Wa Dae ( the `` Blue House '' ), and is exempt from criminal liability ( except for insurrection or treason ). Moon Jae - in, former human rights lawyer and chief of staff to then - President Roh Moo - hyun, assumed post of President of South Korea on 10 May 2017 immediately upon being elected with a plurality of 41.1 %, in contrast to 24.0 % and 21.4 % won by his major opponents, conservative Hong Joon - pyo and centrist Ahn Cheol - soo, respectively. Contents 1 Powers and duties of the president 2 Related constitutional organs 3 Latest election 4 Order of succession 5 List of presidents 6 Living former presidents 7 Notes 8 See also 9 References 10 External links 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 reunification of Korea, typically act as the Chairperson of the National Unification Advisory Council Also, the president is given the powers : as the head of the executive branch of government as the commander - in - chief of the South Korean military to declare war to hold referendum regarding issues of national importance to issue 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 ) If the 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. Related constitutional organs The official residence of the president is Cheong Wa Dae. It means ' the House of the Blue Roof Tiles ', so it is also called the `` Blue House '' in English. The president is assisted by the staff of the 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, 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 Agency for National Security Planning ( ANSP ) which was known as the Korean Central Intelligence Agency ( KCIA ) until December 1980, and others designated by the president. Another important body is the National Unification Advisory Council, inaugurated in June 1981 under the chairpersonship 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. Latest election Main article : South Korean presidential election, 2017 This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. ( January 2018 ) Order 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. According to article 12, section 2 and article 22, section 1 of the Government Organization Act, order of succession follows : Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Minister of Science and ICT Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Unification Minister of Justice Minister of National Defense Minister of Government Administration and Home Affairs Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Minister of Health and Welfare Minister of Environment Minister of Employment and Labor Minister of Gender Equality and Family Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Minister of Oceans and Fisheries List of presidents Main article : List of Presidents of South Korea 1st -- 3rd term Rhee Syngman ( served : 1948 -- 1960 ) Heo Jeong ( acting : April -- June, June -- August 1960 ) Kwak Sang - hoon ( acting : June 1960 ) Baek Nak - jun ( acting : August 1960 ) 4th term Yun Bo - seon ( served : 1960 -- 1962 ) 5th -- 9th term Park Chung - hee ( acting : March 1962 -- December 1963 ) ( served : 1963 -- 1979 ) 10th term Choi Kyu - hah ( acting : October -- December 1979 ) ( served : 1979 -- 1980 ) 11th & 12th term Chun Doo - hwan ( served : 1980 -- 1988 ) 13th term Roh Tae - woo ( served : 1988 -- 1993 ) 14th term Kim Young - sam ( served : 1993 -- 1998 ) 15th term Kim Dae - jung ( served : 1998 -- 2003 ) 16th term Roh Moo - hyun ( served : 2003 -- 2008 ) Goh Kun ( acting : March -- May 2004 ) 17th term Lee Myung - bak ( served : 2008 -- 2013 ) 18th term Park Geun - hye ( served : 2013 -- 2017 ) Hwang Kyo - ahn ( acting : December 2016 -- May 2017 ) 19th term Moon Jae - in ( served : 2017 -- present ) Living former presidents As of July 2018, four former presidents are alive : Image Name Term of office Age Chun Doo - hwan 1980 -- 1988 87 years, 177 days Roh Tae - woo 1988 -- 1993 85 years, 222 days Lee Myung - bak 2008 -- 2013 76 years, 207 days Park Geun - hye 2013 -- 2017 66 years, 162 days The longest - lived President was Yun Bo - seon, who died on July 18, 1990 ( at the age of 92 years, 326 days ). The most recent President to die was Kim Young - sam, who died on November 22, 2015 ( at the age of 87 years, 337 days ). Notes Jump up ^ From 26 April to 15 June 1960 and from 23 June to 7 August 1960, Heo Jeong served as Acting President, in the interregnum between the resignation of Syngman Rhee, and the inauguration of Yun Bo - seon Jump up ^ From 12 March to 14 May 2004, Goh Kun served as Acting President, due to the impeachment of Roh Moo - hyun. Roh was eventually reinstated as President, after the impeachment motion was overturned by the country 's Constitutional Court. Jump up ^ From 9 December 2016 to 10 May 2017, Hwang Kyo - ahn was acting President, due to the Impeachment of Park Geun - hye. Hwang continued to be acting President after Park 's official removal from office on 10 March 2017 until the 2017 presidential election. See also Air transports of heads of state and government # South Korea Official state car # South Korea List of Presidents of South Korea List of Presidents of South Korea by time in office Politics of South Korea Elections in South Korea National Unification Advisory Council Prime Minister of South Korea List of monarchs of Korea Governor - General of Korea First Lady of South Korea Vice President of South Korea List of leaders of North Korea References Jump up ^ Article 70 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. Jump up ^ McCurry, Justin ( 2017 - 05 - 09 ). `` Who is Moon Jae - in, South Korea 's new president ? ''. The Guardian. ISSN 0261 - 3077. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 10. Jump up ^ Sang - hun, Choe ( 2017 - 05 - 09 ). `` South Korea Elects Moon Jae - in, Who Backs Talks With North, as President ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Moon Jae - in Elected South Korea 's New President ''. Time. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 10. Jump up ^ Article 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. U.S. Library of Congress Country Studies External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to President of South Korea. Official Website of the President of the Republic of Korea Former President Archives Former President Archives ( in Korean ) Heads of state of the G20 Macri Elizabeth II ( Governor - General : Cosgrove ) Temer Elizabeth II ( Governor General : Payette ) Xi Tusk Macron Steinmeier Kovind Jokowi Mattarella Akihito Peña Nieto Putin Salman Ramaphosa Moon Erdoğan Elizabeth II Trump Leaders of Korea Italics indicate an acting leader Korean government - in - exile ( 1919 -- 1948 ) Syngman Rhee Yi Dong - nyeong Park Eun - sik Park Eun - sik Yi Yu - pil Yi Sang - ryong Yang Gi - tak Yi Dong - nyeong Ahn Changho Yi Dong - nyeong Hong Jin Kim Koo Yi Dong - nyeong Song Byeong - jo Yi Dong - nyeong Kim Koo Syngman Rhee Divided Korea ( since 1945 ) Democratic People 's Republic of Korea Supreme Leaders Kim Il - sung Kim Jong - il Kim Jong - un Heads of state Kim Tu - bong Choe Yong - gon Kim Il - sung Yang Hyong - sop Kim Yong - nam Heads of government Kim Il - sung Kim Il Pak Song - chol Ri Jong - ok Kang Song - san Ri Kun - mo Yon Hyong - muk Kang Song - san Hong Song - nam Hong Song - nam Pak Pong - ju Kim Yong - il Choe Yong - rim Pak Pong - ju Republic of Korea Heads of state and government Syngman Rhee Heo Jeong Kwak Sang - hoon Baek Nak - jun Yun Posun Park Chung - hee Park Chung - hee Choi Kyu - hah Choi Kyu - hah Pak Choong - hoon Chun Doo - hwan Roh Tae - woo Kim Young - sam Kim Dae - jung Roh Moo - hyun Goh Kun Roh Moo - hyun Lee Myung - bak Park Geun - hye Hwang Kyo - ahn Moon Jae - in Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=President_of_South_Korea&oldid=849430355 '' Categories : Government of South Korea Presidents of South Korea Hidden categories : Pages using Timeline Articles with short description Articles needing additional references from January 2013 All articles needing additional references Use dmy dates from September 2016 Articles containing Korean - language text Articles with Korean - language external links Articles to be expanded from January 2018 All articles to be expanded Articles with empty sections from January 2018 All articles with empty sections Articles using small message boxes Talk Contents About Wikipedia Aragonés Беларуская Български Bosanski Català Dansk Deutsch Esperanto فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Italiano עברית ქართული Қазақша Lietuvių Bahasa Melayu Монгол မြန်မာဘာသာ 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 文言 粵語 中文 26 more Edit links This page was last edited on 8 July 2018, at 23 : 36 ( UTC ). 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Question: who is the chief of state in south korea
Answer: Moon Jae-in