1. Korean Politics

2. Outline Republic of Korea Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
presidential system
National Assembly
judiciary
parties and elections
external relations
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
authoritarian party-state

3. President of ROK Directly elected by all voters
5-year term (no 2nd term)
Head of state
Chief executive
Commander-in-chief of the armed forces
power to declare war
Office and residence: Cheong Wa Dae

4. Presidential Power
Appoint Prime Minister, subject to approval by the National Assembly
Propose legislation
Appoint the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, subject to approval by the National Assembly

5. National Assembly
Unicameral legislature with 300 members, who serve four-year terms
246 directly elected from districts
54 appointed by political parties proportional to vote share
law-making
approve national budget
impeach President

6. Local Government Three levels: central government
higher-level local governments
8 municipality governments
9 do (province) governments
lower-level local governments
cities, counties, districts

7. Evolution of Party System
1950s: Liberal Party, Progressive Party, ...
1961, Park dissolved all political parties, abolished local elections & local councils
1980, General Chun banned political activities by party members
1987, presidential election
1988, National Assembly election

8. Foreign Direct Investment
The financial crisis of 1997 was a turning point
Less than 2,000 foreign-invested companies in 1997
14,000 foreign-invested companies in 2010
US$11.5 billion inward FDI in 2009
US$16.3 billion inward FDI in 2012

11. D.P.R.K. Workers’ Party of Korea Cabinet: premier and ministers
General Secretary of the Central Committee
Kim Jong-Il ( )
Kim Jong-Un (2011- )
Politburo
Cabinet: premier and ministers
National Defense Commission
Supreme People’s Assembly

12. The Six-Party Talks since 2003