Politics Ledger · Asia-Pacific
South Korea
Liberal democracyPresidential republicUnitary
LightDark
In charge
Lee Jae-myung
President
Time in power
1.4 yrs
since 2025
Government seats
57%
majority
Next national vote
2028-04
Legislative
Governance score
72/100
composite of five indices
Born in division and war, South Korea endured decades of authoritarian developmental rule before a people-power transition in 1987. Its democracy has since survived two presidential impeachments and a failed martial-law bid.
Leadership
Who Governs South Korea
Head of state
Holds executive powerLee Jae-myung
President · Democratic Party
Since 4 June 2025 · 1.4 years
Age 63 (born 1963)ManRoute to power: won a popular election
Head of government
Kim Min-seok
Prime Minister · Democratic Party
Since 3 July 2025 · 1.3 years
Age 62 (born 1964)ManRoute to power: appointed
Ruling coalition
Democratic Party majority
Main opposition
People Power Party (PPP)
Last national election
3 June 2025
Snap presidential
Lee won 49.4% after Yoon Suk Yeol was removed over his December 2024 martial-law decree.
Next national election
By April 2028
Legislative
Parliament
National Assembly (unicameral)
Seat distribution (Approximate standing, 2026), ordered from economic left to right.
| Party | Ideology | Seats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party (DPK) | Liberalism, Progressivism | 170 | governing |
| People Power Party (PPP) | Conservatism | 107 | opposition |
| Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) | Progressivism | 12 | confidence |
| Others and independents (OTH) | Various | 5 | opposition |
| Reform Party (RP) | Conservative reformism | 3 | opposition |
| Progressive Party (PRG) | Socialism | 3 | confidence |
Ideology
Party Landscape
Each party placed on economic and social axes, sized by seats.
Institutions
The System
- Official name
- Republic of Korea
- Capital
- Seoul
- Population
- 52 million
- Statehood
- Republic founded 1948; Sixth Republic Constitution 1987
- System
- Presidential republic
- Structure
- Unitary
- Current constitution
- 1987
- Legislature
- National Assembly
- Lower / sole chamber
- National Assembly (unicameral) (300 seats)
- Electoral system
- Plurality presidential vote; 254 district seats plus 46 PR seats.
- Term limits
- President: a single five-year term.
Sources
- National Assembly
- National Election Commission
- EIU Democracy Index 2024; Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2025; RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025; Transparency International CPI 2024; IPU Parline, 2026; V-Dem v15 Liberal Democracy Index (approximate five-year readings)
Last verified 2026-10-29. Party placements are editorial estimates.
Data as of 2026-10-29.