President of South Korea

President of the Republic of Korea
Presidential Seal
Presidential Standard
Incumbent Park Geun-hye since 25 February 2013 Powers and duties suspended by Parliament since 9 December 2016 Acting: Hwang Kyo-ahn
Style	Mr./Ms. President (대통령) (informal) His/Her Excellency (대통령 각하) (formal)
Residence	Blue House, Seoul, South Korea
Appointer	Direct popular vote
Term length	5 years (not renewable)
Inaugural holder	Syngman Rhee 24 July 1948
Website	(English) english.president.go.kr (Korean) [1]

The President of the Republic of Korea (대한민국 대통령; 大韓民國大統領) is, according to the South Korean constitution, the chairman of the cabinet, the chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of South Korea. The Constitution and the amended Presidential Election Act of 1987 provide for election of the president by direct, secret ballot, ending sixteen years of indirect presidential elections under the preceding two governments. The president is directly elected to a five-year term with no possibility of re-election. If a presidential vacancy should occur, a successor must be elected within sixty days, during which time presidential duties are to be performed by the prime minister or other senior cabinet members in the order of priority as determined by law. While in office, the chief executive lives in Cheong Wa Dae (the "Blue House"), and is exempt from criminal liability (except for insurrection or treason).

On February 25, 2013, Park Geun-hye became the 11th and current president of South Korea. She is also the country's first woman to assume this post. She has since been impeached on corruption charges.

Chapter 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea states the duties and the powers of the president. The president is required to:

Also, the president is given the powers:

If the National Assembly votes against a presidential decision, it will be declared void immediately.

The president may refer important policy matters to a national referendum, declare war, conclude peace and other treaties, appoint senior public officials, and grant amnesty (with the concurrence of the National Assembly). In times of serious internal or external turmoil or threat, or economic or financial crises, the president may assume emergency powers "for the maintenance of national security or public peace and order." Emergency measures may be taken only when the National Assembly is not in session and when there is no time for it to convene. The measures are limited to the "minimum necessary."