List of All Presidents of South Korea (1948-2026)
Since its founding as a nation in 1948, South Korea has had a long list of political leaders. The country is now led by President Lee Jae-myung (since 2025) and Prime Minister Han Seong-sook (since 2026).
South Korea, or the Republic of Korea, is an East Asian country located on the southern side of the Korean peninsula. The country maintains a perfect balance of advanced technology and deep-rooted traditions.
It is also home to the famous Korean boy bands BTS, EXO and TXT. Even Samsung is a Korean brand. The capital of South Korea is Seoul, and the official language of the country is Korean (Hangguk).
South Korea spans 100,363 km². It has a democratic presidential republic government. Similar to the United States. Let’s discover the complete list of the presidents of South Korea from 1948 till now.
Complete List of South Korean Presidents (1948 – Present)
South Korea has a complete democracy. It is the common citizens who have control of the power, as they elect their own leaders who run the country. South Korea is led by a president who takes care of the running of the government.
The President’s tenure is for a period of five years only. This is meant to prevent any single individual from abusing power for too long. A constitution of 1987 guides the affairs of this country.
To ensure a perfectly balanced system, there are three distinct branches of government, which check one another. The first one is the Executive branch, which consists of the President and his/her cabinet members, who enforce the laws.
The second is the legislative branch, or National Assembly, where representatives make laws. The third one is the judicial branch, which consists of judges and courts to ensure that the laws are followed by everyone, including the people in charge.
Here is the chronological list of everyone who has served as the President of South Korea since the office was established in 1948:
| No. | President | Term of Office | Time in Office | Political Party (at entry) |
| 1 | Syngman Rhee | July 24, 1948 – April 27, 1960 | 11 years, 278 days | National Association |
| 2 | Yun Po-sun | August 13, 1960 – March 24, 1962 | 1 year, 223 days | Democratic |
| 3 | Park Chung-hee | December 17, 1963 – October 26, 1979 | 15 years, 314 days | Democratic Republican |
| 4 | Choi Kyu-hah | December 6, 1979 – August 16, 1980 | 254 days | Independent |
| 5 | Chun Doo-hwan | September 1, 1980 – February 25, 1988 | 7 years, 177 days | Military / Democratic Justice |
| 6 | Roh Tae-woo | February 25, 1988 – February 25, 1993 | 5 years | Democratic Justice |
| 7 | Kim Young-sam | February 25, 1993 – February 25, 1998 | 5 years | Democratic Liberal |
| 8 | Kim Dae-jung | February 25, 1998 – February 25, 2003 | 5 years | National Congress |
| 9 | Roh Moo-hyun | February 25, 2003 – February 25, 2008 | 5 years | Millennium Democratic |
| 10 | Lee Myung-bak | February 25, 2008 – February 25, 2013 | 5 years | Grand National |
| 11 | Park Geun-hye | February 25, 2013 – March 10, 2017 | 4 years, 13 days | Saenuri |
| 12 | Moon Jae-in | May 10, 2017 – May 10, 2022 | 5 years | Democratic |
| 13 | Yoon Suk-yeol | May 10, 2022 – April 4, 2025 | 2 years, 329 days | People Power |
| 14 | Lee Jae-myung | June 4, 2025 – Present | Incumbent | Democratic |
Who Is The Current President Of South Korea?
The current president of South Korea is Lee Jae-myung. He became President on June 4, 2025, after he won the presidential election in 2025. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and he has been serving as the President for five years.
Who Is The First President Of South Korea?
South Korea’s first president was Syngman Rhee. His presidential tenure began on July 24, 1948, the very same day that the Republic of Korea came into being. He guided South Korea throughout the period of the Korean War and remained the president till his resignation on April 27, 1960.
Who Is The Longest Serving President Of South Korea?
Park Chung-hee was the longest-serving president of South Korea who reigned for about 16 years. He served from 17 December 1963 until his assassination on 26 October 1979. Park initially rose to power through a military coup before later winning the elections.
Who Is The Shortest Serving President Of South Korea?
Choi Kyu-hah is famous for being the president of South Korea who stayed in power for the shortest amount of time among all other presidents, not taking into account any interim presidents. Choi Kyu-hah's reign took place from 1979 to 1980. His term ended because of the military coup.
Kriti Barua is a skilled digital journalist and communications professional with 4+ years of experience, currently writing for the General Knowledge section at Jagran New Media. She has established herself as a subject matter expert in History, Geography, Trending National and International News, Sports, Science, and Defence, producing clear, reliable, and search-optimised content that connects with readers worldwide.
Kriti holds a BA degree from Delhi University and a one-year diploma in TV Production and Journalism, an academic background that adds research depth and strong storytelling instincts to her writing. Her experience spans brand writing, content marketing, and digital media, giving her a sharp understanding of what makes content both helpful to readers and visible in search.
At Jagran New Media, she applies this expertise to national and international news coverage, query-based articles, and in-depth pieces across her specialist subject areas. Her content is defined by easy language, factual accuracy, strong keyword strategy, and reader-friendly storytelling.
![[OUT] CSIR NET Admit Card 2026 Live: Download June Session Hall Ticket PDF at csirnet.nta.nic.in](https://img.jagranjosh.com/images/2026/July/1372026/CSIR-NET-Admit-Card-2026.jpg)
