Government

SOUTH KOREA'S GOVERNMENT Type: Republic with powers shared between the president, the legislature, and the courts. Liberation: August 15, 1945. Constitution: July 17, 1948; last revised 1987. Branches: //Executive//--President (chief of state); Prime Minister (head of government). //Legislative//--unicameral National Assembly. //Judicial//--Supreme Court and appellate courts; Constitutional Court. Subdivisions: Nine provinces, seven administratively separate cities (Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan). Political parties: Grand National Party (GNP); United Democratic Party (UDP); Liberal Forward Party (LFP); Democratic Labor Party (DLP). Suffrage: Universal at 19. Central government budget (2004): //Expenditures//--$100.46 billion. Defense (2005): $21.06 billion; over 680,000 troops. **GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS Principal Government Officials: Prime Minister--Han Seung-soo [|Ambassador to the U.S.]--Lee Tae-sik [|Ambassador to the UN]--Kim Hyun-chong Korea maintains an [|embassy] in the United States at 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-939-5600). [|Consulates] General are located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Hagatna (Agana) in Guam.**
 * Government**
 * Adapted from:http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800.htm
 * The Republic of Korea (commonly known as "South Korea") is a republic with powers nominally shared among the presidency, the legislature, and the judiciary, but traditionally dominated by the president. The president is chief of state and is elected for a single term of 5 years. The 299 members of the unicameral National Assembly are elected to 4-year terms. In the upcoming general elections on April 9, 2008, a total of 245 members will be elected from single-seat districts and 54 members will be chosen by proportional representation. South Korea's judicial system comprises a Supreme Court, appellate courts, and a Constitutional Court. The judiciary is independent under the constitution. The country has nine provinces and seven administratively separate cities--the capital of Seoul, along with Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Incheon and Ulsan. Political parties include the Grand National Party (GNP), United Democratic Party (UDP), Liberal Forward Party (LFP), and Democratic Labor Party (DLP). Suffrage is universal at age 19 (lowered from 20 in 2005).**
 * President--Lee Myung-bak
 * Adapted From: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800.htm

For information on the Government of South Korea and other related information please visit the official site of Korea:http://www.korea.net/