# List of prime ministers of South Korea

This article lists the prime ministers of South Korea, from the First Republic founded in 1948 to the present-day Sixth Republic.

## List of prime ministers

| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | President |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | President |
| Prime ministers of the First Republic ||||||||
| 1 | | Lee Beom-seok 이범석 李範奭 (1900–1972) | 31 July 1948 | 20 April 1950 | 1 year, 263 days | Independent | Rhee Syng-man |
| — | | Shin Song-mo 신성모 申性模 (1891–1960) Acting | 21 April 1950 | 22 November 1950 | 215 days | Independent | Rhee Syng-man |
| 2 | | Chang Myon 장면 張勉 (1899–1966) | 23 November 1950 | 23 April 1952 | 1 year, 152 days | Liberal | Rhee Syng-man |
| — | | Yi Yun-yong 이윤영 李允榮 (1890–1975) Acting | 24 April 1952 | 5 May 1952 | 11 days | Independent | Rhee Syng-man |
| 3 | | Chang Taek-sang 장택상 張澤相 (1893–1969) | 6 May 1952 | 5 October 1952 | 152 days | Independent | Rhee Syng-man |
| 4 | | Paik Too-chin 백두진 白斗鎭 (1908–1993) | 9 October 1952 | 17 June 1954 | 1 year, 251 days | Independent | Rhee Syng-man |
| 5 | | Pyon Yong-tae 변영태 卞榮泰 (1892–1969) | 27 June 1954 | 28 November 1954 | 154 days | Independent | Rhee Syng-man |
| Post abolished (28 November 1954 – 15 June 1960) ||||||||
| Prime ministers of the Second Republic ||||||||
| 6 | | Ho Chong 허정 許政 (1896–1988) | 15 June 1960 | 18 August 1960 | 64 days | Independent | Yun Posun |
| 7 (2) | | Chang Myon 장면 張勉 (1899–1966) | 19 August 1960 | 17 May 1961 | 271 days | Democratic | Yun Posun |
| Chief Cabinet Ministers of the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction ||||||||
| — | | Chief of Staff of the Army Jang Do-young 장도영 張都暎 (1923–2012) | 20 May 1961 | 2 July 1961 | 43 days | Military | Yun Posun |
| — | | Chief of Staff of the Army Song Yo-chan 송요찬 宋堯讚 (1918–1980) | 3 July 1961 | 15 June 1962 | 347 days | Military | Yun Posun |
| — | | General Park Chung Hee 박정희 朴正熙 (1917–1979) | 18 June 1962 | 9 July 1962 | 21 days | Military | Park Chung Hee (acting) |
| — | | Kim Hyun-chul 김현철 金顯哲 (1901–1989) | 10 July 1962 | 16 December 1963 | 1 year, 159 days | Independent | Park Chung Hee (acting) |
| Prime ministers of the Third Republic ||||||||
| 8 | | Choi Tu-son 최두선 崔斗善 (1894–1974) | 17 December 1963 | 9 May 1964 | 144 days | Independent | Park Chung Hee |
| 9 | | Chung Il-kwon 정일권 丁一權 (1917–1994) | 10 May 1964 | 20 December 1970 | 6 years, 224 days | Independent | Park Chung Hee |
| 10 (4) | | Paik Too-chin 백두진 白斗鎭 (1908–1993) | 21 December 1970 | 3 June 1971 | 164 days | Democratic Republican | Park Chung Hee |
| 11 | | Kim Jong-pil 김종필 金鍾泌 (1926–2018) | 4 June 1971 | 20 November 1972 | 1 year, 169 days | Democratic Republican | Park Chung Hee |
| Prime ministers of the Fourth Republic ||||||||
| 11 (cont'd.) | | Kim Jong-pil 김종필 金鍾泌 (1926–2018) | 21 November 1972 | 18 December 1975 | 3 years, 27 days | Democratic Republican | Park Chung-hee |
| 12 | | Choi Kyu-hah 최규하 崔圭夏 (1919–2006) | 19 December 1975 | 5 December 1979 | 3 years, 351 days | Independent | Park Chung-hee |
| 13 | | Shin Hyun-hwak 신현확 申鉉碻 (1920–2007) | 13 December 1979 | 21 May 1980 | 160 days | Democratic Republican | Choi Kyu-hah |
| — | | Park Choong-hoon 박충훈 朴忠勳 (1919–2001) Acting | 22 May 1980 | 1 September 1980 | 102 days | Democratic Republican | Choi Kyu-hah |
| 14 | | Nam Duck-woo 남덕우 南德祐 (1924–2013) | 2 September 1980 | 2 March 1981 | 181 days | Independent | Chun Doo-hwan |
| Prime ministers of the Fifth Republic ||||||||
| 14 (cont'd.) | | Nam Duck-woo 남덕우 南德祐 (1924–2013) | 3 March 1981 | 3 January 1982 | 306 days | Independent | Chun Doo-hwan |
| 15 | | Yoo Chang-soon 유창순 劉彰順 (1918–2010) | 4 January 1982 | 24 June 1982 | 171 days | Independent | Chun Doo-hwan |
| 16 | | Kim Sang-hyup 김상협 金相浹 (1920–1995) | 25 June 1982 | 14 October 1983 | 1 year, 111 days | Independent | Chun Doo-hwan |
| 17 | | Chin Iee-chong 진의종 陳懿鍾 (1921–1995) | 15 October 1983 | 18 February 1985 | 1 year, 126 days | Democratic Justice | Chun Doo-hwan |
| — | | Shin Byung-hyun [ko] 신병현 申秉鉉 (1921–1999) Acting | 11 November 1984 | 18 February 1985 | 99 days | Democratic Justice | Chun Doo-hwan |
| 18 | | Lho Shin-yong 노신영 盧信永 (1930–2019) | 19 February 1985 | 25 May 1987 | 2 years, 95 days | Democratic Justice | Chun Doo-hwan |
| — | | Lee Han-key [ko] 이한기 李漢基 (1917–1995) Acting | 26 May 1987 | 13 July 1987 | 48 days | Independent | Chun Doo-hwan |
| 19 | | Kim Chung-yul 김정렬 金貞烈 (1917–1992) | 14 July 1987 | 24 February 1988 | 225 days | Independent | Chun Doo-hwan |
| Prime ministers of the Sixth Republic ||||||||
| 20 | | Lee Hyun-jae 이현재 李賢宰 (born 1929) | 25 February 1988 | 4 December 1988 | 283 days | Independent | Roh Tae-woo |
| 21 | | Kang Young-hoon 강영훈 姜英勛 (1922–2016) | 5 December 1988 | 26 December 1990 | 2 years, 21 days | Democratic Justice → Democratic Liberal | Roh Tae-woo |
| 22 | | Ro Jai-bong 노재봉 盧在鳳 (1936–2024) | 27 December 1990 | 23 May 1991 | 147 days | Democratic Liberal | Roh Tae-woo |
| 23 | | Chung Won-shik 정원식 鄭元植 (1928–2020) | 24 May 1991 | 7 October 1992 | 1 year, 136 days | Independent | Roh Tae-woo |
| 24 | | Hyun Soong-jong 현승종 玄勝鍾 (1919–2020) | 8 October 1992 | 24 February 1993 | 139 days | Independent | Roh Tae-woo |
| 25 | | Hwang In-sung 황인성 黃寅性 (1926–2010) | 25 February 1993 | 16 December 1993 | 294 days | Democratic Liberal | Kim Young-sam |
| 26 | | Lee Hoi-chang 이회창 李會昌 (born 1935) | 17 December 1993 | 21 April 1994 | 125 days | Independent | Kim Young-sam |
| 27 | | Lee Yung-dug 이영덕 李榮徳 (1926–2010) | 22 April 1994 | 16 December 1994 | 238 days | Independent | Kim Young-sam |
| 28 | | Lee Hong-koo 이홍구 李洪九 (born 1934) | 17 December 1994 | 17 December 1995 | 1 year, 0 days | Independent | Kim Young-sam |
| 29 | | Lee Soo-sung 이수성 李壽成 (born 1939) | 18 December 1995 | 4 March 1997 | 1 year, 76 days | New Korea | Kim Young-sam |
| 30 | | Goh Kun 고건 高建 (born 1938) | 5 March 1997 | 2 March 1998 | 362 days | New Korea → Grand National | Kim Young-sam |
| 31 (11) | | Kim Jong-pil 김종필 金鍾泌 (1926–2018) | 3 March 1998 | 12 January 2000 | 1 year, 315 days | United Liberal Democrats | Kim Dae-jung |
| 32 | | Park Tae-joon 박태준 朴泰俊 (1927–2011) | 13 January 2000 | 18 May 2000 | 126 days | United Liberal Democrats | Kim Dae-jung |
| — | | Lee Hun-jai 이헌재 李憲宰 (born 1944) Acting | 19 May 2000 | 22 May 2000 | 3 days | Independent | Kim Dae-jung |
| 33 | | Lee Han-dong 이한동 李漢東 (1934–2021) | 23 May 2000 | 10 July 2002 | 2 years, 48 days | United Liberal Democrats | Kim Dae-jung |
| — | | Chang Sang 장상 張裳 (born 1939) Acting | 11 July 2002 | 31 July 2002 | 20 days | Independent | Kim Dae-jung |
| — | | Jeon Yun-churl [ko] 전윤철 田允喆 (born 1939) Acting | 31 July 2002 | 9 August 2002 | 9 days | Independent | Kim Dae-jung |
| — | | Chang Dae-whan 장대환 張大煥 (born 1952) Acting | 9 August 2002 | 10 September 2002 | 32 days | Independent | Kim Dae-jung |
| 34 | | Kim Suk-soo 김석수 金碩洙 (born 1932) | 10 September 2002 | 26 February 2003 | 169 days | Independent | Kim Dae-jung |
| 35 (30) | | Goh Kun 고건 高建 (born 1938) | 27 February 2003 | 24 July 2004 | 1 year, 148 days | Independent | Roh Moo-hyun |
| — | | Lee Hun-jai 이헌재 李憲宰 (born 1944) Acting | 25 July 2004 | 30 July 2004 | 5 days | Independent | Roh Moo-hyun |
| 36 | | Lee Hae-chan 이해찬 李海瓚 (born 1952) | 30 July 2004 | 15 March 2006 | 1 year, 228 days | Uri | Roh Moo-hyun |
| — | | Han Duck-soo 한덕수 韓悳洙 (born 1949) Acting | 16 March 2006 | 19 April 2006 | 34 days | Independent | Roh Moo-hyun |
| 37 | | Han Myeong-sook 한명숙 韓明淑 (born 1944) | 20 April 2006 | 6 March 2007 | 320 days | Uri | Roh Moo-hyun |
| — | | Kwon O-kyu 권오규 權五奎 (born 1952) Acting | 7 March 2007 | 2 April 2007 | 26 days | Independent | Roh Moo-hyun |
| 38 | | Han Duck-soo 한덕수 韓悳洙 (born 1949) | 2 April 2007 | 29 February 2008 | 333 days | Independent | Roh Moo-hyun |
| 39 | | Han Seung-soo 한승수 韓昇洙 (born 1936) | 29 February 2008 | 28 September 2009 | 1 year, 212 days | Grand National | Lee Myung-bak |
| 40 | | Chung Un-chan 정운찬 鄭雲燦 (born 1947) | 29 September 2009 | 11 August 2010 | 316 days | Independent | Lee Myung-bak |
| — | | Yoon Jeung-hyun 윤증현 尹增鉉 (born 1946) Acting | 11 August 2010 | 1 October 2010 | 51 days | Grand National | Lee Myung-bak |
| 41 | | Kim Hwang-sik 김황식 金滉植 (born 1948) | 1 October 2010 | 26 February 2013 | 2 years, 148 days | Independent | Lee Myung-bak |
| 42 | | Chung Hong-won 정홍원 鄭烘原 (born 1944) | 26 February 2013 | 16 February 2015 | 1 year, 355 days | Independent | Park Geun-hye |
| 43 | | Lee Wan-koo 이완구 李完九 (1950–2021) | 17 February 2015 | 27 April 2015 | 69 days | Saenuri | Park Geun-hye |
| — | | Choi Kyoung-hwan 최경환 崔炅煥 (born 1955) Acting | 27 April 2015 | 18 June 2015 | 52 days | Saenuri | Park Geun-hye |
| 44 | | Hwang Kyo-ahn 황교안 黃敎安 (born 1957) | 17 June 2015 | 11 May 2017 | 1 year, 328 days | Independent | Park Geun-hye |
| 44 | | Hwang Kyo-ahn 황교안 黃敎安 (born 1957) | 17 June 2015 | 11 May 2017 | 1 year, 328 days | Independent | Hwang Kyo-ahn (acting) |
| — | | Yoo Il-ho 유일호 柳一鎬 (born 1955) Acting | 11 May 2017 | 31 May 2017 | 20 days | Liberty Korea | Moon Jae-in |
| 45 | | Lee Nak-yon 이낙연 李洛淵 (born 1951) | 31 May 2017 | 14 January 2020 | 2 years, 228 days | Democratic | Moon Jae-in |
| 46 | | Chung Sye-kyun 정세균 丁世均 (born 1950) | 14 January 2020 | 16 April 2021 | 1 year, 92 days | Democratic | Moon Jae-in |
| — | | Hong Nam-ki 홍남기 洪楠基 (born 1960) Acting | 16 April 2021 | 13 May 2021 | 27 days | Independent | Moon Jae-in |
| 47 | | Kim Boo-kyum 김부겸 金富謙 (born 1958) | 14 May 2021 | 11 May 2022 | 362 days | Democratic | Moon Jae-in |
| — | | Choo Kyung-ho 추경호 秋慶鎬 (born 1960) Acting | 12 May 2022 | 20 May 2022 | 8 days | People Power | Yoon Suk Yeol |
| 48 (38) | | Han Duck-soo 한덕수 韓悳洙 (born 1949) | 21 May 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 302 days | Independent | Yoon Suk Yeol |
| — | | Choi Sang-mok 최상목 崔相穆 (born 1963) Acting | 27 December 2024 | Incumbent | 82 days | Independent | Yoon Suk Yeol |