Prime Minister of South Korea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of theRepublic of Korea |
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Standard of the prime minister
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Emblem of the prime minister
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| Executive branch of the Government of South Korea Prime Minister's Office |
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| Style |
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| Member of |
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| Residence | Chongni Gonggwan |
| Seat | Sejong City |
| Nominator | President |
| Appointer | President (with the National Assembly's approval) |
| Term length | Serves as long as the president agrees |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of South Korea |
| Precursor | Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea |
| Inaugural holder | Lee Beom-seok |
| Formation | 31 July 1948 |
| Deputy | Deputy Prime Minister |
| Salary | ₩191,000,000 annually |
| Website | |
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The Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (Hangul: 국무총리) is the second-highest political leader in South Korea. The prime minister is chosen by the President, but the National Assembly (the country's main law-making group) must approve the choice.
In South Korea, the president is both the head of state and the head of government. This means the prime minister is not the main leader of the country, but instead acts as the president's most important assistant.
The prime minister's role is to help the president run the government. If the president is unable to do their job for any reason, the prime minister takes over as the acting president. This is similar to the job of the Vice President of the United States.
The current prime minister is Kim Min-seok.
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What's in a Name?
The Korean title for the prime minister is Gungmu Chongni. The word gungmu (Hangul: 국무; Hanja: 國務) means "state affairs," and chongni (Hangul: 총리; Hanja: 總理) means "prime minister." So, the full title means "Prime Minister for State Affairs." However, most people just call the person Chongni or Prime Minister.
History of the Role
The position of prime minister was created on July 31, 1948, right before the government of South Korea was officially formed. The very first prime minister was Lee Beom-seok.
For a short time during the Second Republic (1960-1961), the government system changed. The prime minister became the most powerful leader, and the president had a smaller, more ceremonial role. Chang Myon was the prime minister during this period.
Over the years, many people have served as prime minister. Sometimes, a prime minister decides to leave the job.
- In 2014, Prime Minister Chung Hong-won announced he wanted to resign. However, it took time to find a replacement, so he stayed in office until February 2015.
- In 2015, Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo resigned after a public controversy.
What Does the Prime Minister Do?
The prime minister is the president's main helper and has many important duties.
- Supervises Ministries: The prime minister oversees the different government departments, called ministries, to make sure they are doing their jobs correctly.
- Recommends Ministers: The prime minister suggests people to the president for positions as government ministers.
- Leads the Cabinet: The prime minister is the vice-chairperson of the State Council, which is the official cabinet of South Korea.
- Acts as President: The prime minister is first in line to become the acting president if the current president cannot perform their duties. The most recent prime minister to serve as Acting President was Han Duck-soo in 2024.
Sometimes, a person is appointed as prime minister by the president but has not yet been approved by the National Assembly. This person is called an "acting prime minister."
How Can a Prime Minister Be Removed?
The Constitution of South Korea explains how a prime minister can be removed from office through a process called impeachment.
According to the law, if the prime minister, president, or other high-ranking officials are believed to have broken the law or not followed the constitution, the National Assembly can start the impeachment process.
- A vote for impeachment must be suggested by at least one-third of the members of the National Assembly.
- To pass, a majority of the members must vote in favor of it.
- If the vote passes, the prime minister is suspended from their job until the Constitutional Court of Korea makes a final decision.
- The court has 180 days to decide. The only outcome from the court's decision is removal from office. It does not include other penalties, but the person can still face separate legal charges.
The Prime Minister's Office
The prime minister has a large team of people to help them do their job. This team works in the Prime Minister's Office, which is split into two main parts:
- Office for Government Policy Coordination: This office helps the prime minister manage important government policies. It also works on solving national problems and making sure government rules are fair and effective.
- Prime Minister's Secretariat: This office helps the prime minister with daily tasks. This includes working with the National Assembly, giving advice, writing speeches, and organizing meetings and official visits.
Salary and Residence
The prime minister earns a salary of about $163,000 per year, which is set by the National Assembly.
The prime minister lives in an official home called Chongni Gonggwan. The South Korean government owns and takes care of this residence.
Life After Being Prime Minister
After they leave office, all former prime ministers receive a lifelong pension. They are also offered protection from the Presidential Security Service, but they can choose not to accept it. When a former prime minister passes away, they are often honored with a state funeral.
Lists of prime ministers
See also
In Spanish: Primer ministro de Corea del Sur para niños
- Politics of South Korea
- Premier of North Korea
- Prime Minister of the Korean Empire
