1. 2015-11-28 1 Presidential Regime and the Korean Model of Democratic Transition Jeongmin Seo Graduate School of International and Area Studies Hankuk University of Foreign Studies CSID-Tunisia Conference

2. An Overview of Constitution Transitions Regarding Presidential System in Korea 1 Enactment/ Amendment Major ChangeBackground Establishment of Constitution in July 1948 -presidential system -indirect election of president -limitation of three four year consecutive terms -4 year unicameral parliament -establishment of ROK -Pres. Rhee objected proposed parliamentary cabinet system The First Amendment in Jul. 1952 -direct election of president -bicameral legislature -Pres. Rhee controlled the amendment process through his suppression of PMs The 2 nd Amendment in Nov. 1954 -removal term limits for the president -Rhee again forced an amendment after his being sworn in for the third term The 3 rd Amendment in Jun. 1960 -parliamentary cabinet system -a figurehead president -bicameral legislature -more democratic constitution after the 4.19 uprising

3. An Overview of Constitution Transitions Regarding Presidential System in Korea 2 Enactment/ Amendment Major ChangeBackground The 4 th Amendment in Nov. 1960 -added a special provision to the Constitution which enabled the National Assembly to enact retroactive laws aimed at punishing ex-regime supporters -to punish those involved in election fraud, responsible for the killing of people protesting such frauds The 5 th Amendment in Dec. 1962 -the presidential system back in place -limitation of two 4 year consecutive terms - 4 year term single-house legislature back in place -the 1960 version was nullified after the May 1961 coup -the third republic’s constitution The 6 th Amendment in Oct. 1969 -relaxing restrictions on the number of consecutive terms a president could serve -the limit was raised from two terms to three -enabling President Park Chung Hee to seek a third consecutive term. The 7 th Amendment in Dec. 1972 -eliminating restrictions on the number of terms of the president -six year terms fro the president -indirect election of the president through a newly created electoral college -the fourth republic (Yusin) constitution -giving the president sweeping powers with the authority to fill one-third of the seats in the National Assembly, to dissolve the National Assembly, and to issue emergency decrees -allowing the president to rule for life

4. An Overview of Constitution Transitions Regarding Presidential System in Korea 3 Enactment/ Amendment Major ChangeBackground The 8 th Amendment in Oct. 1980 -a single seven-year term for the president -indirect election through a electoral college -Pres. Park’s assassination in 1979 -the beginning of the 5 th Republic (a neo-military regime) in 1980 under Pres. Chun -limited restriction on power of president The 9 th Amendment in Oct. 1987 -a single five-year term -direct election of president -the current constitution -after the pro-democratic uprising in June 1987 -the first constitution agreed by the ruling and opposition parties

5. Key Factors in Persistent Presidential System in Korea US Influence Nation-State Building Coping with Ideological Conflicts and Regionalism Security Issue with North Korea: National Unity Needed; Taking Advantage of the Security Environment during the Cold War by the Regimes Tradition of Strictly Hierarchical Society and Great Respect for Authority, Age and Seniority A String Leadership Needed to Reconstruction Support for the Developmental Authoritarianism No Two-Party System Fragile Technocrat-Bureaucratic System

6. GDP Growth in Korea

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10. Current Debate on Semi-Presidential System in Korea Introduction of Semi-Presidential System is Very Hot Issue in Korea Reducing Presidential Power Mixed with Partial Parliamentary System giving more authority and power to Prime Minister who represents a ruling party but share, check and balance presidential power Two 4-year Consecutive Terms of Presidency

11. Applicability of Korean Model of Presidential System to Tunisia Something to Learn, but Not Applicable Similarities: Colonial Experience, Ideological Division, Relatively Positive National Unity, Economic Environment Differences: Degree of External Security Threat; Religion-Related Factor; Economic and Industrial Development; Possible Parliamentary System in Tunisia: Experience of Authoritarian Presidential System and Good Environment of Two Party System Presidential System Recommended for Develop Economy and Industrialization