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List of prime ministers of South Korea facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Prime Minister of South Korea is a very important leader in the country. They are the second most powerful person after the President. The Prime Minister helps the President manage the government and make sure everything runs smoothly. They lead the Cabinet, which is a group of top government officials.

This article lists all the people who have served as Prime Minister of South Korea since the country was founded in 1948. Their names are listed with their family name first, which is a common way to write names in Korea.

Who are the Prime Ministers?

Here is a list of the Prime Ministers of South Korea. You can see when they started and finished their job, and which political group they belonged to.

Political Groups

     Conservative (These groups usually prefer traditional ways and less government control.)      Liberal (These groups often support social change and more government help for people.)      Military (Sometimes, military leaders took charge of the government.)      Independent (These people do not belong to any specific political group.)

Special Notes
     This color means the person was an acting prime minister. (An "acting" prime minister fills the role temporarily until a new one is officially chosen.)
No. Picture Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Political Group President
Started Ended How long they served
Prime Minister during the United States Army Military Government in Korea (Before South Korea was fully independent)
1 이범석.JPG Lee Beom-seok
이범석
李範奭

(1900–1972)
31 July 1948 15 August 1948 15 days Korean National Youth Association Rhee Syng-Man in 1948.jpg
Rhee Syng-man
Prime Ministers of the First Republic (1948-1960)
(1) 이범석.JPG Lee Beom-seok
이범석
李範奭

(1900–1972)
15 August 1948 20 April 1950 1 year, 248 days Korean National Youth Association
Independent
Rhee Syng-Man in 1948.jpg
Rhee Syng-man
Shin sung.jpg Shin Song-mo
신성모
申性模

(1891–1960)
Acting
21 April 1950 22 November 1950 215 days Independent
2 Chang Myon 1955.jpg Chang Myon
장면
張勉

(1899–1966)
23 November 1950 23 April 1952 1 year, 152 days Liberal
Heo Jeong.png Ho Chong
허정
許政

(1896–1988)
Acting
6 November 1951 9 April 1952 155 days Independent
Yi Yun-yong, The Dong-A Ilbo.jpg Yi Yun-yong
이윤영
李允榮

(1890–1975)
Acting
24 April 1952 5 May 1952 11 days Independent
3 Jang Taek.jpg Chang Taek-sang
장택상
張澤相

(1893–1969)
6 May 1952 5 October 1952 152 days Independent
4 Baek Du-jin.jpg Paik Too-chin
백두진
白斗鎭

(1908–1993)
9 October 1952 17 June 1954 1 year, 251 days Independent
5 Byeon Yeong-tae.jpg Pyon Yong-tae
변영태
卞榮泰

(1892–1969)
27 June 1954 28 November 1954 154 days Independent
Baek Han-seong
백한성
白汉成

(1899–1971)
Acting
18 November 1954 28 November 1954 10 days Independent
The Prime Minister job was removed for a while (28 November 1954 – 27 April 1960)
Heo Jeong.png Ho Chong
허정
許政

(1896–1988)
Acting
25 April 1960 15 June 1960 51 days Independent Rhee Syng-Man in 1948.jpg
Rhee Syng-man
Heo Jeong.png
Ho Chong
(acting)
Prime Ministers of the Second Republic (1960-1963)
6 Heo Jeong.png Ho Chong
허정
許政

(1896–1988)
15 June 1960 18 August 1960 64 days Independent 윤보선 대통령 존영2.jpg
Yun Posun
7
(2)
Chang Myon 1955.jpg Chang Myon
장면
張勉

(1899–1966)
19 August 1960 16 May 1961 270 days Democratic
Chief Cabinet Ministers during a time of military rule (1961-1963)
(7)
(2)
Chang Myon 1955.jpg Chang Myon
장면
張勉

(1899–1966)
16 May 1961 17 May 1961 1 day Democratic 윤보선 대통령 존영2.jpg
Yun Posun
Chang Do-young.jpg Army Chief
Jang Do-young
장도영
張都暎

(1923–2012)
20 May 1961 3 July 1961 44 days Military
General Song Yo-chan 1959.jpg Army Chief
Song Yo-chan
송요찬
宋堯讚

(1918–1980)
3 July 1961 16 June 1962 348 days Military
Park Chung-hee.jpg General
Park Chung Hee
박정희
朴正熙

(1917–1979)
18 June 1962 10 July 1962 22 days Military Park Chung-hee.jpg
Park Chung Hee
(acting)
Kim Hyun-chul 金顕哲 김현철 1961.jpg Kim Hyun-chul
김현철
金顯哲

(1901–1989)
10 July 1962 17 December 1963 1 year, 160 days Independent
Prime Ministers of the Third Republic (1963-1972)
8 최두선.jpg Choi Tu-son
최두선
崔斗善

(1894–1974)
17 December 1963 9 May 1964 144 days Independent Park Chung-hee.jpg
Park Chung Hee
9 General Chung Il-kwon 02.jpg Chung Il-kwon
정일권
丁一權

(1917–1994)
10 May 1964 20 December 1970 6 years, 224 days Independent
10
(4)
Baek Du-jin.jpg Paik Too-chin
백두진
白斗鎭

(1908–1993)
21 December 1970 3 June 1971 164 days Democratic Republican
11 Kim Jong-pil 1999.png Kim Jong-pil
김종필
金鍾泌

(1926–2018)
4 June 1971 21 November 1972 1 year, 170 days Democratic Republican
Prime Ministers of the Fourth Republic (1972-1981)
11
(continued)
Kim Jong-pil 1999.png Kim Jong-pil
김종필
金鍾泌

(1926–2018)
21 November 1972 18 December 1975 3 years, 27 days Democratic Republican Park Chung-hee.jpg
Park Chung-hee
12 Presidents of the Republic Of Korea (4261836786) Choi.jpg Choi Kyu-hah
최규하
崔圭夏

(1919–2006)
19 December 1975 5 December 1979 3 years, 351 days Independent
13 復興部企劃局企劃科長李起鴻.jpg Shin Hyun-hwak
신현확
申鉉碻

(1920–2007)
13 December 1979 21 May 1980 160 days Democratic Republican Presidents of the Republic Of Korea (4261836786) Choi.jpg
Choi Kyu-hah
Park Choong-hoon
(acting)
Park Choong-hoon
박충훈
朴忠勳

(1919–2001)
Acting
22 May 1980 1 September 1980 102 days Democratic Republican
14 남덕우 총리.jpg Nam Duck-woo
남덕우
南德祐

(1924–2013)
2 September 1980 2 March 1981 181 days Independent Chun Doo-hwan, 1985-Mar-22 (cropped).jpg
Chun Doo-hwan
Prime Ministers of the Fifth Republic (1981-1988)
14
(continued)
남덕우 총리.jpg Nam Duck-woo
남덕우
南德祐

(1924–2013)
3 March 1981 3 January 1982 306 days Independent Chun Doo-hwan, 1985-Mar-22 (cropped).jpg
Chun Doo-hwan
15 Yoo Chang-soon.jpg Yoo Chang-soon
유창순
劉彰順

(1918–2010)
4 January 1982 24 June 1982 171 days Independent
16 Kim Sang-hyup 1983.jpg Kim Sang-hyup
김상협
金相浹

(1920–1995)
25 June 1982 14 October 1983 1 year, 111 days Independent
17 Chin Iee-chong
진의종
陳懿鍾

(1921–1995)
15 October 1983 18 February 1985 1 year, 126 days Democratic Justice
Shin Byung-hyun [ko]
신병현
申秉鉉

(1921–1999)
Acting
11 November 1984 18 February 1985 99 days Democratic Justice
18 Lho Shin-yong.jpg Lho Shin-yong
노신영
盧信永

(1930–2019)
19 February 1985 25 May 1987 2 years, 95 days Democratic Justice
Lee Han-key [ko]
이한기
李漢基

(1917–1995)
Acting
26 May 1987 13 July 1987 48 days Independent
19 Sadao Kagawa, Ki-61.jpg Kim Chung-yul
김정렬
金貞烈

(1917–1992)
14 July 1987 24 February 1988 225 days Independent
Prime Ministers of the Sixth Republic (1988-Present)
20 이현재 총리.jpg Lee Hyun-jae
이현재
李賢宰

(born 1929)
25 February 1988 4 December 1988 283 days Independent Roh Tae-woo - cropped, 1989-Mar-13.jpg
Roh Tae-woo
21 Kang Young-hoon
강영훈
姜英勛

(1922–2016)
5 December 1988 26 December 1990 2 years, 21 days Democratic Justice →
Democratic Liberal
22 Ro Jai-bong
노재봉
盧在鳳

(1936–2024)
27 December 1990 23 May 1991 147 days Democratic Liberal
23 Chung Won-shik
정원식
鄭元植

(1928–2020)
24 May 1991 7 October 1992 1 year, 136 days Independent
24 현승종.jpg Hyun Soong-jong
현승종
玄勝鍾

(1919–2020)
8 October 1992 24 February 1993 139 days Independent
25
Hwang-insung-archive-korea.jpg
Hwang In-sung
황인성
黃寅性

(1926–2010)
25 February 1993 16 December 1993 294 days Democratic Liberal Kim Young-sam presidential portrait.jpg
Kim Young-sam
26 Lee Hoi-chang (2010).jpg Lee Hoi-chang
이회창
李會昌

(born 1935)
17 December 1993 21 April 1994 125 days Independent
27 Lee Yung-dug
이영덕
李榮徳

(1926–2010)
22 April 1994 16 December 1994 238 days Independent
28 Lee Hong Koo.png Lee Hong-koo
이홍구
李洪九

(born 1934)
17 December 1994 17 December 1995 1 year, 0 days Independent
29 Lee Soo-sung 1 (cropped).jpg Lee Soo-sung
이수성
李壽成

(born 1939)
18 December 1995 4 March 1997 1 year, 76 days New Korea
30 대한민국 총리 고건 서울종합방재센터 방문90 (cropped).jpg Goh Kun
고건
高建

(born 1938)
5 March 1997 2 March 1998 362 days New Korea →
Grand National
31
(11)
Kim Jong-pil 1999.png Kim Jong-pil
김종필
金鍾泌

(1926–2018)
3 March 1998 12 January 2000 1 year, 315 days United Liberal Democrats Kim Dae-jung presidential portrait.jpg
Kim Dae-jung
32 Park Tae-joon
박태준
朴泰俊

(1927–2011)
13 January 2000 18 May 2000 126 days United Liberal Democrats
Lee Hun-jai
이헌재
李憲宰

(born 1944)
Acting
19 May 2000 22 May 2000 3 days Independent
33
Lee Han-Dong.jpg
Lee Han-dong
이한동
李漢東

(1934–2021)
23 May 2000 10 July 2002 2 years, 48 days United Liberal Democrats
장상.jpg Chang Sang
장상
張裳

(born 1939)
Acting
11 July 2002 31 July 2002 20 days Independent
Jeon Yun-churl [ko]
전윤철
田允喆

(born 1939)
Acting
31 July 2002 9 August 2002 9 days Independent
Dae-Whan CHANG7.jpg Chang Dae-whan
장대환
張大煥

(born 1952)
Acting
9 August 2002 10 September 2002 32 days Independent
34 2000년대 초반 서울소방 소방공무원(소방관) 활동 사진 총리센타방문-1 (김석수).jpg Kim Suk-soo
김석수
金碩洙

(born 1932)
10 September 2002 26 February 2003 169 days Independent
35
(30)
대한민국 총리 고건 서울종합방재센터 방문90 (cropped).jpg Goh Kun
고건
高建

(born 1938)
27 February 2003 24 July 2004 1 year, 148 days Independent Roh Moo-hyun presidential portrait.jpg
Roh Moo-hyun
Lee Hun-jai
이헌재
李憲宰

(born 1944)
Acting
25 July 2004 30 July 2004 5 days Independent
36 191028더불어민주당예산정책협의회(3).jpg Lee Hae-chan
이해찬
李海瓚

(born 1952)
30 July 2004 15 March 2006 1 year, 228 days Uri
Han Duck-soo.jpg Han Duck-soo
한덕수
韓悳洙

(born 1949)
Acting
16 March 2006 19 April 2006 34 days Independent
37 Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook taking a commemorative photo with the Speaker of the National Assembly.jpg Han Myeong-sook
한명숙
韓明淑

(born 1944)
20 April 2006 6 March 2007 320 days Uri
Kwon O-kyu [ko]
권오규
權五奎

(born 1952)
Acting
7 March 2007 2 April 2007 26 days Independent
38 Han Duk-Soo, Prime Minister South Korea and Dominik Knoll, CEO of the World Trade Center (cropped).jpg Han Duck-soo
한덕수
韓悳洙

(born 1949)
2 April 2007 29 February 2008 333 days Independent
39 Han Seung-Soo - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2009.jpg Han Seung-soo
한승수
韓昇洙

(born 1936)
29 February 2008 28 September 2009 1 year, 212 days Grand National Lee Myung-bak presidential portrait.jpg
Lee Myung-bak
40 ChungUnChan(060515)Cropped.jpg Chung Un-chan
정운찬
鄭雲燦

(born 1947)
29 September 2009 11 August 2010 316 days Independent
Yoon Jeung-Hyun (cropped).jpg Yoon Jeung-hyun
윤증현
尹增鉉

(born 1946)
Acting
11 August 2010 1 October 2010 51 days Grand National
41 Kim Hwang Sik-1-1.jpg Kim Hwang-sik
김황식
金滉植

(born 1948)
1 October 2010 26 February 2013 2 years, 148 days Independent
42 Chung Hong-won small.jpg Chung Hong-won
정홍원
鄭烘原

(born 1944)
26 February 2013 16 February 2015 1 year, 355 days Independent Park Geun-hye presidential portrait.png
Park Geun-hye
43 이완구 전 총리.png Lee Wan-koo
이완구
李完九

(1950–2021)
17 February 2015 27 April 2015 69 days Saenuri
Choi Kyoung-hwan 2014.jpg Choi Kyoung-hwan
최경환
崔炅煥

(born 1955)
Acting
27 April 2015 18 June 2015 52 days Saenuri
44 Hwang Kyo-ahn December 2016.jpg Hwang Kyo-ahn
황교안
黃敎安

(born 1957)
17 June 2015 11 May 2017 1 year, 328 days Independent
President Hwang Kyo Ahn.jpg
Hwang Kyo-ahn
(acting)
Deputy PM Yoo Ilho Press Conference 04.jpg Yoo Il-ho
유일호
柳一鎬

(born 1955)
Acting
11 May 2017 31 May 2017 20 days Liberty Korea Moon Jae-in, September 2019.jpg
Moon Jae-in
45 South Korean Prime Minister Lee - 2017 (36235112603) (cropped).jpg Lee Nak-yon
이낙연
李洛淵

(born 1951)
31 May 2017 14 January 2020 2 years, 228 days Democratic
46 Donald Trump and Chung Sye-kyun (cropped2).jpg Chung Sye-kyun
정세균
丁世均

(born 1950)
14 January 2020 16 April 2021 1 year, 92 days Democratic
Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance.jpg Hong Nam-ki
홍남기
洪楠基

(born 1960)
Acting
16 April 2021 13 May 2021 27 days Independent
47 Kim Boo-kyum - 20170119 k (cropped).jpg Kim Boo-kyum
김부겸
金富謙

(born 1958)
14 May 2021 11 May 2022 362 days Democratic
추경호 부총리 예방 받아 001 (cropped).jpg Choo Kyung-ho
추경호
秋慶鎬

(born 1960)
Acting
12 May 2022 20 May 2022 8 days People Power South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol portrait.jpg
Yoon Suk Yeol
48
(38)
Han Duck-soo March 2023 (cropped).jpg Han Duck-soo
한덕수
韓悳洙

(born 1949)
21 May 2022 27 December 2024 2 years, 220 days Independent
Choi Sang-mok 20240816.jpg Choi Sang-mok
최상목
崔相穆

(born 1963)
Acting
27 December 2024 24 March 2025 87 days Independent
48
(38)
Prime Minister of South Korea HAN Duck-soo 20240516 (cropped).jpg Han Duck-soo
한덕수
韓悳洙

(born 1949)
24 March 2025 1 May 2025 38 days Independent President Han Duck-soo.jpg
Han Duck-soo
(acting)
Lee Ju-ho Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education 20241203.jpg Lee Ju-ho
이주호
李周浩

(born 1961)
Acting
2 May 2025 3 July 2025 62 days Independent President Lee Ju-ho.jpg
Lee Ju-ho
(acting)
49 Kim Min-seok's Portrait (2024.7) (cropped).png Kim Min-seok
김민석
金民錫

(born 1964)
3 July 2025 Incumbent 37 days Democratic President Lee Jae-Myung June 2025.jpg
Lee Jae Myung

Images for kids

See also

kids search engine
List of prime ministers of South Korea Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.