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South Korea

GOVT 201: East Asian Politics
Sweet Briar College
Instructor: Dr. Andrew Clem
For use of enrolled SBC students ONLY.

Years Leader(s)
1950- Syngman Rhee
1955- Syngman Rhee
1960- Park Chung Hee
1965- Park Chung Hee
1970- Park Chung Hee
1975- Park Chung Hee
1980- Chun Doo Hwan
1985- Chun Doo Hwan, Roh Tae Woo
1990- Roh Tae Woo, Kim Young Sam
1995- Kim Young Sam, Kim Dae Jung
2000- Kim Dae Jung, Roh Moo-hyun
2005- Roh Moo-hyun

Years indicated above are approximate.

Basic facts:
Political system:Semi-presidential republic
National leader:Pres. Roh Moo-hyun (2003-)
Structure:Unitary
Regime founded:1949
Democracy:Semi-established
Population:49 million
Per capita GDP:$24,500

Distinctive features:

  • Mixture of Chinese and Japanese cultural influences.
  • Deep ambivalence about U.S. and about reunification with North.
  • "Chaebol" conglomerates, like Japanese "keiretsus."
  • New democracy was shaken by 1997 economic crisis.
  • Economic growth spured by government.
 Korea map

To see a continental-scale map, roll the mouse over the map above.
Click on it to see a key that explains the map symbols.

Political parties:

Name Uri Party Others Grand National Party
Seats*: 141 31 127

NOTES: * Seats in lower house.
SOURCES: CIA World Factbook, various newspapers.

Background history

SOURCES: Don Oberdorfer: The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History (New York: Basic Books, 2002)
James Lewis and Amadu Sesay, Korea and Globalization: Politics, Economics and Culture (New York: RoutledgeCurzon, 2002)
Daniel Metraux, Korea (Staunton, Virginia: Mary Baldwin College, 1986)