Political

Political system

Presidential-style democracy with President elected for a single five-year term.

National government

Grand National Party.  State Council (cabinet) ministers appointed by President are not normally members of the National Assembly.

National legislature

National Assembly, unicameral, 245 Parliamentary seats filled by direct election; 54 distributed between parties in proportion to their share of the vote (list MPs).

Last election

Presidential – December 2007.

National Assembly – April 2008.

Next election due

Presidential – December 2012.

National Assembly – April 2012.

Head of State

President – Lee Myung-bak.

Head of Government

President – Lee Myung-bak.

Key Ministers

Prime Minister – Currently vacant
Foreign Affairs & Trade – Currently vacant
Food, Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries – Yoo Jeong-bok
National Defense – Kim Tae-young
Strategy and Finance – Yoon Jeung-hyun
Education, Science & Technology – Lee Ju-ho
Knowledge Economy – Currently vacant
Culture, Sports & Tourism – Currently vacant
Environment – Lee Man-eui
Unification – Hyun In-taek
Patriots and Veterans Affairs  – Kim Yang

Main political parties

Grand National Party (GNP)
Democratic Party (DP)
Liberty Forward Party (LFP)

 

Source: Ministry of Foriegn Affairs and Trade