GOVERNMENT
The Republic of Korea (commonly known as "South Korea") is a republic with powers nominally shared among the presidency, the legislature, and the judiciary, but traditionally dominated by the president. The president is chief of state and is elected for a single term of 5 years. The 299 members of the unicameral National Assembly are elected to 4-year terms. In the upcoming general elections on April 9, 2008, a total of 245 members will be elected from single-seat districts and 54 members will be chosen by proportional representation. South Korea's judicial system comprises a Supreme Court, appellate courts, and a Constitutional Court. The judiciary is independent under the constitution. The country has nine provinces and seven administratively separate cities--the capital of Seoul, along with Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Incheon and Ulsan. Political parties include the Grand National Party (GNP), United Democratic Party (UDP), Liberal Forward Party (LFP), and Democratic Labor Party (DLP). Suffrage is universal at age 19 (lowered from 20 in 2005).
Principal
Government Officials
President--Lee Myung-bak
Prime Minister--Han Seung-soo
Minister of Strategy and Finance--Kang Man-soo
Minister of Education, Science and Technology--Kim Do-yeon
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade--Yu Myung-hwan
Minister of Unification--Kim Ha-joong
Minister of Justice--Kim Kyung-han
Minister of National Defense--Lee Sang-hee
Minister of Public Administration and Security--Won Sei-hoon
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism--Yu In-chon
Minister of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries--Chung Un-chun
Minister of Knowledge Economy--Lee Youn-ho
Minister of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs--Kim Soung-yee
Minister of Environment--Lee Maan-ee
Minister of Labor--Lee Young-hee
Minister of Gender Equality--Byun Do-yoon
Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs--Chung Jong-hwan
Director of the National Intelligence Service--Kim Sung-ho
Senior Secretary to the President for Foreign Affairs and National Security--Kim Byung-kook
Ambassador to the U.S.--Lee Tae-sik
Ambassador to the UN--Kim Hyun-chong
Korea
maintains an embassy
in the United States at 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20008 (tel. 202-939-5600). Consulates general are located in
New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Seattle,
Atlanta, Houston, Honolulu, and Hagatna (Guam).
Type: Republic with powers shared between the president, the legislature, and the courts.
Liberation: August 15, 1945.
Constitution: July 17, 1948; last revised 1987.
Branches: Executive--President (chief of state); Prime Minister (head of government). Legislative--unicameral National Assembly. Judicial--Supreme Court and appellate courts; Constitutional Court.
Subdivisions: Nine provinces, seven administratively separate cities (Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan).
Political parties: Grand National Party (GNP); United Democratic Party (UDP); Liberal Forward Party (LFP); Democratic Labor Party (DLP).
Suffrage: Universal at 19.
Central government budget (2004): Expenditures--$100.46 billion.
Defense (2005): $21.06 billion; over 680,000 troops.
