Korean Political System Lecture Notes PDF

ninth Lecture Outline Republic of Korea presidential system National Assembly judiciary parties and elections external relations Democratic People’s Republic of Korea authoritarian party-state Korean Politics President of ROK Directly elected by all voters...

ninth Lecture Outline Republic of Korea presidential system National Assembly judiciary parties and elections external relations Democratic People’s Republic of Korea authoritarian party-state Korean Politics President of ROK Directly elected by all voters 5-year term (no 2nd term) Head of state Chief executive Commander-in-chief of the armed forces power to declare war Can not dissolve the National Assembly Presidential Power Appoint Prime Minister, subject to approval by the National Assembly Propose legislation Appoint the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, subject to approval by the National Assembly National Assembly Unicameral legislature with 300 members, who serve four-year terms 253 directly elected from districts 47 appointed by political parties proportional to vote share law-making approve national budget impeach President  OVERVIEW The politics of South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea) function in the structure of a presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President serves as head of state, and of a multi-party system. The government exercises executive power. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. The Judiciary, independent of both the executive and the legislature, includes a Supreme Court, appellate courts, and a Constitutional Court. The constitution has been revised five times since 1948; each change indicated a new republic. The current Sixth Republic started with the last significant constitutional amendment in 1987.  The President, elected by direct popular vote for one five-year term, acts as head of state. The President also acts as Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and enjoys access to substantial executive authority. With approval from the National Assembly, the President nominates the PM; the President also has the power to nominate and supervise the State Council of chief ministers as the head of government. On 12 March 2004, then President Roh Moo-hyun’s executive power was suspended when the Assembly voted in favor of impeaching him, making then PM Goh Kun acting president. On 14 May 2004, the Constitutional Court rejected the impeachment move made by the Assembly, and Roh was reinstated as President.  LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Legislative Branch The National Assembly consists of 300 members who are elected for a four-year term; 244 members are elected in single-seat constituencies, whereas fifty-six are elected through proportional representation. National Assembly of South Korea  JUDICIAL BRANCH Judicial Branch The Judiciary of South Korea functions independently from the other two branches. The Supreme Court, whose justices are nominated by the President with the National Assembly’s permission, is the most supreme judiciary body. The Constitutional Court additionally supervises questions of constitutionality. South Korea has not agreed to necessary ICJ jurisdiction. Constitutional Court of Korea CURRENT PARTIES Main parties Saenuri Party