Prime Minister of South Korea

Prime Minister of
the Republic of Korea

Prime Ministerial Emblem

Prime Ministerial Standard
Incumbent
Kim Hwang-Sik

since 1 October 2010
Term length appointed by the President of South Korea with
the National Assembly's approval
Inaugural holder Lee Beom-seok
Formation 1948
Website (English) pmo.go.kr/eng.do
(Korean) pmo.go.kr/kor.do
South Korea

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Korea


Government

Constitution

National Assembly
political parties
GNP · DEP · LFP · FHA · DLP · PPP · NPP

Cabinet
President (list)
Prime Minister (list)

Supreme Court
Chief Justice

National Election Commission of South Korea

Elections

Presidential elections
2002 • 2007 • 2012

Legislative elections
2004 • 2008 • 2012

Local elections
2002 • 2006 • 2010

By-elections
2011

Related topics

Korean reunification
Sunshine Policy
Administrative divisions
Human rights
Foreign relations


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The Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea is appointed by the President with the National Assembly's approval. Unlike prime ministers in the parliamentary system, the Prime Minister of South Korea is not required to be a member of parliament.

The Prime Minister assists the President, supervises ministries, and recommends ministers. The Prime Minister is the first in the order of succession to discharge the duties of the office of the President as the acting-president should the president be unable to discharge his office. The last person to have served as the acting-president was Goh Kun during the impeachment trial of President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004.

The position was created in August 1948, when South Korea was founded, and was held by Lee Bum Suk until 1950. The title was Chief Cabinet Minister from 1961 until 1963.

A Prime Minister appointed by the President but not confirmed by the Assembly is known as the acting Prime Minister. The Prime Minister becomes acting president if the president dies, resigns or is impeached.

See also

References

External links