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Republic of Korea  (South Korea)
 
[Korean flag detail c.1883]
                before 1883
 
[Korea Flag 1883-1910]
            6  Mar 1883 - 29 Aug 1910
 
[Japanese Resident General, 1905-1910]
 21 Dec 1905 - 29 Aug 1910 Resident's Flag 
 
[Japan]
          29 Aug 1910 - 12 Sep 1945
 
[Korea, 1948-1950 flag]
             7 Jul 1948 - 25 Jan 1950 
 
[South Korean flag]
                Adopted 25 Jan 1950
 


 Map of South Korea
 Hear National Anthem
"Aegukka"
(The Song of Love
of Country)

Adopted 15 Aug 1948
 Former National Anthem
"Daehan Jeguk Aegukga"
(Patriotic Song of the
Korean Empire) (1902 - 1910)

(to tune of Auld Lang Syne;
same lyrics as 1948 anthem)
Constitution
(17 Jul 1948) 
Capital: Seoul
(Taegu  Jun 28 Jun -
20 Jul 1950; Pusan
20 Jul 1950 - 1952)
Currency: South Korean
Won (KRW) 
National Holiday: 15 Aug (1945)
Liberation Day
Population: 47,044,790 (2007)
27,275,000 (1945)
GDP: $1.18 trillion (2006)
Exports: $326 billion (2006)
Imports: $309.3 billion (2006)
Ethnic groups: Korean 97.7 %, Japanese 2%,
US white 0.1%, Han Chinese  0.1%, other 0.1% (2000)
Total Armed Forces: 686,000 (2003)
U.S. Military Forces: 40,258 (2004)
Merchant marine: 669 ships (2006)
Religions: Buddhist 23.2%, Protestant 19.7%,
Roman Catholic 6.6%, Confucian 0.5%, Wonbulgyo 0.2%,
Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) 0.1%,
other 0.4%, non-religious 49.3% (1995)
International Organizations/Treaties: ADB, AfDB, AG, ANT, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BTWC, CP, CTBT, EAS, EBRD, ENMOD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NPT, NSG, NTBT, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
South Korea
Index
Chronology

57 BC - 935 AD             Silla Kingdom (in the southeast).
37 BC - 624                Koguryo Kingdom (in the north; then to Silla).
18 BC - 668 AD             Paekche Kingdom (in the southwest; then to Silla)
918                        Koyro Kingdom (in the south only to 935).
1231 - 1392                Mongol occupation.
27 Mar 1393                Great Choson Realm (or Kingdom).
23 Oct 1592 - 1598         Japanese invasion.
1637 - 17 Apr 1895         Korea a tributary of (Qing [Manchu]) China.
12 Oct 1897                Great Han Empire
17 Nov 1905                Japanese protectorate (effective 21 Dec 1905).
29 Aug 1910 - 15 Aug 1945  Annexed by Japan (Chosen).
 6 Sep 1945 - 12 Sep 1945  Korean People's Republic (declared but not 
                             recognized).
12 Sep 1945 - Aug/Sep 1948 Occupied by U.S. south of the 38th parallel, 
                             and by U.S.S.R north of the parallel.
15 Aug 1948                Republic of Korea (South Korea)
 9 Sep 1948                Democratic People's Republic of Korea formed
                             (North Korea).
28 Jun 1950 - 27 Sep 1950  Most of South Korea (except Pusan perimeter) 
                             occupied by North Korea.
 4 Jan 1951 - 14 Mar 1951  Seoul occupied by Chinese forces.

Provinces
Republic of
Korea in Exile
(1919-1945)
Map of  Korean
Peninsula
Map of
Demilitarized
Zone (DMZ)
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Emperors are listed with their personal name followed by their temple name (myoho, by which rulers are generally referred to), posthumous style (si), and era name (nyonho). Era names, the adoption of which was a very strong indication of sovereignty vis-à-vis Imperial China, were not adopted before 1 Jan 1896.

Kings¹
18 Sep 1674 - 12 Jul 1720  Yi Sun                             (b. 1660 - d. 1720)
                             myoho: Sukchong / si: Hyon-ui taewang
12 Jul 1720 - 11 Oct 1724  Yi Kyon                            (b. 1688 - d. 1724)
                             myoho: Kyongjong / si: Tokmun taewang
11 Oct 1724 - 22 Apr 1776  Yi Kum                             (b. 1694 - d. 1776)
                             myoho: Yongjong, later Yongjo
                             si: Hyonhyo taewang, Chihyong taewang
22 Apr 1776 - 18 Aug 1800  Yi Sun                             (b. 1752 - d. 1800)
                             myoho: Chongjong, later Chongjo
                             si: Changhyo taewang, Munsong taewang
18 Aug 1800 - 13 Dec 1834  Yi Kwang                           (b. 1790 - d. 1834)
                             myoho: Sunjo / si: Songhyo taewang, Yondok taewang
18 Aug 1800 - 1804         Queen Kim Jonsung -Regent          (b. 1769 - d. 1805)
13 Dec 1834 - 25 Jul 1849  Yi Hwan                            (b. 1827 - d. 1849)
                             myoho: Honjong / si: Chulhyo taewang, Ch'egon taewang
13 Dec 1834 - Dec 1834     Queen Kim Sun-wo Wang-ho -Regent 
                             (1st time)
28 Jul 1849 - 16 Jan 1864  Yi Chung                           (b. 1831 - d. 1864)
                             myoho: Ch'oljong / si: Yonghyo taewang, Huilyun taewang
1849 - 1850                Queen Kim Sun-wo Wang-ho -Regent 
                             (2nd time)
21 Jan 1864 - 12 Oct 1897  Yi Hyong                           (b. 1852 - d. 1919)
                             myoho: Kojong
                             nyonho 1 Jan 1896 - 14 Oct 1897: Konyang
21 Jan 1864 - 22 Dec 1873  Hung-son Taewon-gun -Regent        (b. 1820 - d. 1898)
21 Jan 1864 - 1866         Cho Sin-chong -Regent
Dec 1873 - 1894            Mun Ch'i-rok -Regent               (b. 1849 - d. 1895) 
Emperors¹
12 Oct 1897 - 20 Jul 1907  Yi Hyong                           (s.a.)
                             myoho: Kojong
                             nyonho 14 Oct 1897 - 20 Jul 1907: Kwangmu
20 Jul 1907 - 29 Aug 1910  Yi Ch'ok                           (b. 1874 - d. 1926)
                             myoho: Sunjong
                             nyonho 20 Jul 1907 - 29 Aug 1910: Lyunghui
Residents-general 
21 Dec 1905 - 14 Jun 1909  Marquess Hirobumi Ito              (b. 1841 - d. 1909)
                             (from 21 Sep 1907, Duke Hirobumi Ito)
14 Jun 1909 - 30 May 1910  Viscount Arasuke Sone              (b. 1849 - d. 1910)
30 May 1910 -  1 Oct 1910  Viscount Masatake Terauchi         (b. 1852 - d. 1919)
Governors-general
 1 Oct 1910 -  9 Oct 1916  Viscount Masatake Terauchi         (s.a.)
                             (from 21 Apr 1911, Count Masatake Terauchi)
16 Oct 1916 - 12 Aug 1919  Count Yoshimichi Hasegawa          (b. 1850 - d. 1924)
12 Aug 1919 - 10 Dec 1927  Makoto Saito (1st time)            (b. 1858 - d. 1936)
                             (from 1925, Viscount Makoto Saito) 
14 Apr 1927 -  1 Dec 1927  Kazushige Ugaki (1st time)         (b. 1868 - d. 1956)
                             (acting for Saito)
10 Dec 1927 - 17 Aug 1929  Hanzo Yamanashi                    (b. 1865 - d. 1944)
17 Aug 1929 - 17 Jun 1931  Viscount Makoto Saito (2nd time)   (s.a.)
17 Jun 1931 -  5 Aug 1936  Kazushige Ugaki (2nd time)         (s.a.)
 5 Aug 1936 - 15 Jun 1942  Jiro Minami                        (b. 1874 - d. 1957)
15 Jun 1942 - 22 Jul 1944  Kuniaki Koiso                      (b. 1880 - d. 1950)
25 Jul 1944 - 12 Sep 1945  Nobuyuki Abe                       (b. 1875 - d. 1953)
President of the Korean People's Republic (not recognized)
 6 Sep 1945 - 12 Sep 1945  Syngman Rhee (Lee Seung-Man)       (b. 1875 - d. 1965)
                             (absent, did not take office)
 6 Sep 1945 - 12 Sep 1945  Yeo Unhyeong (Yo Un-hyong)         (b. 1885 - d. 1947)
                             (acting)
U.S. Commander-in-chief (USAMGIK) 
 9 Sep 1945 - 15 Aug 1948  John Reed Hodge                    (b. 1893 - d. 1963)
U.S. Military governors
12 Sep 1945 - Dec 1945     Archibald V. Arnold                (b. 1889 - d. 1973)
Dec 1945 - 11 Sep 1947     Archer L. Lerch                    (b. 1894 - d. 1947)
Oct 1947 - 15 Aug 1948     William F. Dean                    (b. 1899 - d. 1981)
Presidents
15 Aug 1948 -  3 May 1960  Syngman Rhee                       (s.a.)               LP
28 Jun 1950 - 29 Sep 1950  Yi Sung Yup                        (b. 1905 - d. 1953)  CND
                            (chairman of Seoul Provisional People's Committee;
                             under North Korean occupation)
 3 May 1960 - 15 Jun 1960  Ho Chong (1st time) (acting)       (b. 1896 - d. 1988)  LP
15 Jun 1960 - 26 Jun 1960  Kwak Sang Hoon (acting)            (b. 1896 - d. 1979)  DP
26 Jun 1960 - 13 Aug 1960  Ho Chong (2nd time) (acting)       (s.a.)               LP
13 Aug 1960 - 24 Mar 1962  Yun Po Sun                         (b. 1897 - d. 1990)  DP
24 Mar 1962 - 26 Oct 1979  Park Chung Hee                     (b. 1917 - d. 1979)  Mil; 1963
                            (acting to 17 Dec 1963; de facto leader as chairman of the   DRP
                            Supreme Council for National Reconstruction from 3 Jul 1961)

26 Oct 1979 - 16 Aug 1980  Choi Kyu Hah                       (b. 1919 - d. 2006)  DRP 
                             (acting to 6 Dec 1979)
16 Aug 1980 -  1 Sep 1980  Park Choong Hoon (acting)          (b. 1919 - d. 2001)  Mil
 1 Sep 1980 - 25 Feb 1988  Chun Doo Hwan                      (b. 1931)           Mil;1981 DJP
25 Feb 1988 - 25 Feb 1993  Roh Tae Woo                        (b. 1932)           DJP;1990 MDD
25 Feb 1993 - 25 Feb 1998  Kim Young Sam                      (b. 1927)           MDD;1995 SHD
25 Feb 1998 - 25 Feb 2003  Kim Dae Jung                       (b. 1925)          SJKH;2000 MD
25 Feb 2003 - 25 Feb 2008  Roh Moo Hyun                       (b. 1946)          SMD; Sep 2003
                             (suspended 12 Mar 2004 - 14 May 2004)     Non-party; May 2004 UD;
                                                                            Feb 2007 Non-party
12 Mar 2004 - 14 May 2004  Goh Kun                            (b. 1938)            Non-party

                             (acting for suspended Roh)
25 Feb 2008 -              
Lee Myung Bak                      (b. 1941)            HD
 

Chief ministers (title youngwijong [1884-84 chonglidaeshin or prime minister])
1873 - 1876                Lee Choe Ung
1873 - 1874                Min Sungho (acting for Yi)         (d. 1874)
1876 - 1881                Pak Kyu Su
1881 - 1884                Shin Hun
Dec 1884 -  5 Dec 1884     Hong Yon Sik
 7 Dec 1884 - 1888         Kim Hong Jip (1st time)            (d. 1896)
1888 - Jul 1894            Shum Suntek
23 Jul 1894 - Apr 1895     Kim Hong Jip (2nd time)            (s.a.)
Prime ministers (title wijongdaeshin)
Apr 1895 - Jun 1895        Pak Yong Hyo
Jun 1895 - Oct 1895        Pak Che Sun
Oct 1895 - Feb 1896        Kim Hong Jip                       (s.a.)
12 Feb 1896 - 1896         Han Kyu Sol (1st time)
1896 - 1897                Lee Won Yong (1st time)            (b. 1858 - d. 1926)
1897 - 1898                Yong Yong Sun (1st time)
1898                       Yu Kui Hwai (acting)               (d. 1902)
1899 - 1901                Shin Ki Sun
1901 - 1903                Yong Yong Sun (2nd time)
1904 - 1905                Lee Kum Myong
1905                       Han Kyu Sol (2nd time)
1905 - 1907                Pak Che Sun (1st time)
1907 - 1909                Lee Won Yong (2nd time)            (s.a.)
1909 - Jul 1910            Pak Che Sun (2nd time)
29 Jul 1910 - 29 Aug 1910  Lee Won Yong (3rd time)            (s.a.)
Chairman of the Provisional Council
15 Aug 1945 -  6 Sep 1945  Yeo Unhyeong (Yo Un-hyong)         (s.a.)
Premier of the Korean People's Republic (not recognized)  
 6 Sep 1945 - 15 Sep 1945  Heo Heon (Ho Hon)                  (b. 1885 - d. 1951)  CKD
Chief Civil Administrators
1945 - 1947?               Brainard E. Prescoff
Feb 1947 - 15 Aug 1948     Ahn Jae Hong                       (b. 1891 - d. 1965)

Chairmen of the Interim Legislative Assembly
12 Dec 1946 -  3 Mar 1948  Kim Kyu Sik                        (b. 1881 - d. 1950)
 3 Mar 1948 - 31 May 1948  Syngman Rhee                       (s.a.)               LP
Speaker of the Constituent Assembly
31 May 1948 - 15 Aug 1948  Syngman Rhee                       (s.a.)               LP
Prime ministers

 1 Aug 1948 - 21 Apr 1950  Lee Bum Suk                        (b. 1900 - d. 1972)  Non-party
21 Apr 1950 - 23 Nov 1950  Shin Sung Mo (acting)              (b. 1898 - d. 1960)  Non-party
23 Nov 1950 - 24 Apr 1952  Chang Myon (1st time)              (b. 1899 - d. 1966)  LP 
24 Apr 1952 -  6 May 1952  Yi Yun Yong (acting)               (b. 1890 - d. 1975)  LP
 6 May 1952 -  6 Oct 1952  Chang Taek Sang                    (b. 1893 - d. 1969)  LP
 9 Oct 1952 - 17 Jun 1954  Paik Too Chin (1st time)           (b. 1908 - d. 1993)  LP
                             (acting to 24 Apr 1953)
28 Jun 1954 - 28 Nov 1954  Pyun Yung Tai                      (b. 1892 - d. 1969)  LP
28 Nov 1954 - 15 Jun 1960  Post abolished
15 Jun 1960 - 18 Aug 1960  Ho Chong                           (s.a.)               LP
18 Aug 1960 - 18 May 1961  Chang Myon (2nd time)              (s.a.)               DP; 1960 SD
Chief Cabinet ministers
20 May 1961 -  3 Jul 1961  Chang Do Yung                      (b. 1923)            Mil
 3 Jul 1961 - 16 Jun 1962  Song Yo Chan                       (b. 1918 - d. 1980)  Mil
18 Jun 1962 - 10 Jul 1962  Park Chung Hee                     (s.a.)               Mil
10 Jul 1962 - 17 Dec 1963  Kim Hyun Chul                      (b. 1901 - d. 1989)  Non-party
Prime ministers
17 Dec 1963 - 11 May 1964  Choi Doo Sun                       (b. 1894 - d. 1974)  Non-party
11 May 1964 - 20 Dec 1970  Chung Il Kwon                      (b. 1917 - d. 1994)  Non-party
20 Dec 1970 -  4 Jun 1971  Paik Too Chin (2nd time)           (s.a.)               DRP
 4 Jun 1971 - 19 Dec 1975  Kim Jong Pil (1st time)            (b. 1926)            DRP
19 Dec 1975 -  6 Dec 1979  Choi Kyu Hah                       (s.a.)               DRP
                             (acting to 13 Mar 1976) 
12 Dec 1979 - 22 May 1980  Shin Hyon Hwak (1st time)          (b. 1920 - d. 2007)  DRP
22 May 1980 -  2 Sep 1980  Park Choong Hoon (acting)          (s.a.)               Mil
 2 Sep 1980 -  4 Jan 1982  Nam Duck Woo                       (b. 1924)            DJP
                             (acting to 22 Sep 1980) 
 4 Jan 1982 - 25 Jun 1982  Yoo Chang Soon                     (b. 1918)            DJP
                             (acting to 23 Jan 1982)
25 Jun 1982 - 14 Oct 1983  Kim Sang Hyup                      (b. 1920 - d. 1995)  DJP
                             (acting to 21 Sep 1982) 
14 Oct 1983 - 19 Feb 1985  Chin Iee Chong                     (b. 1921)            DJP
                             (acting to 17 Oct 1983) 
19 Feb 1985 - 26 May 1987  Lho Shin Yong                      (b. 1930)            DJP
                             (acting to 16 May 1985) 
26 May 1987 - 14 Jul 1987  Lee Han Key (acting)               (b. 1917 - d. 1995)  DJP
14 Jul 1987 - 25 Feb 1988  Kim Chung Yul                      (b. 1917 - d. 1992)  Non-party
                             (acting to 7 Aug 1987) 
25 Feb 1988 -  5 Dec 1988  Lee Hyun Jae                       (b. 1929)            Non-party
                             (acting to 2 Mar 1988) 
 5 Dec 1988 - 27 Dec 1990  Kang Young Hoon                    (b. 1922)           DJP;1990 MDD
                             (acting to 16 Dec 1988)
27 Dec 1990 - 24 May 1991  Ro Jai Bong                        (b. 1936)            MDD
24 May 1991 -  8 Jul 1991  Shin Hyon Hwak (2nd time) (acting) (s.a.)               Non-party
 8 Jul 1991 -  8 Oct 1992  Chung Won Shik                     (b. 1928)            Non-party
 8 Oct 1992 - 25 Feb 1993  Hyun Soong Jong                    (b. 1919)            Non-party
25 Feb 1993 - 17 Dec 1993  Hwang In Sung                      (b. 1926)            MDD
17 Dec 1993 - 22 Apr 1994  Lee Hoi Chang                      (b. 1935)            MDD
22 Apr 1994 - 17 Dec 1994  Lee Yung Duk                       (b. 1926)            MDD
17 Dec 1994 - 18 Dec 1995  Lee Hong Koo                       (b. 1934)            MDD
18 Dec 1995 -  4 Mar 1997  Lee Soo Sung                       (b. 1939)            SHD
 4 Mar 1997 -  3 Mar 1998  Goh Kun (1st time)                 (s.a.)               SHD
 3 Mar 1998 - 13 Jan 2000  Kim Jong Pil (2nd time)            (s.a.)               JMY
                             (acting to 17 Aug 1998)
13 Jan 2000 - 19 May 2000  Park Tae Joon                      (b. 1927)            JMY
19 May 2000 - 22 May 2000  Lee Hun Jai (1st time)(acting)     (b. 1944)            Non-party
22 May 2000 - 11 Jul 2002  Lee Han Dong                       (b. 1934)            JMY
                             (acting to 29 Jun 2000)
11 Jul 2002 - 31 Jul 2002  Chang Sang (f)(acting)             (b. 1939)            Non-party
31 Jul 2002 -  9 Aug 2002  Jeon Yun Churl (acting)            (b. 1939)            Non-party
 9 Aug 2002 - 10 Sep 2002  Chang Dae Whan (acting)            (b. 1952)            Non-party
10 Sep 2002 - 26 Feb 2003  Kim Suk Soo                        (b. 1932)            Non-party
                             (acting to 5 Oct 2002)
26 Feb 2003 - 25 May 2004  Goh Kun (2nd time)                 (s.a.)               Non-party
25 May 2004 - 30 Jun 2004  Lee Hun Jai (2nd time)(acting)     (s.a.)               Non-party
30 Jun 2004 - 14 Mar 2006  Lee Hai Chan                       (b. 1952)            UD
14 Mar 2006 - 19 Apr 2006  Han Duck Soo (1st time)(acting)    (b. 1949)            Non-party
19 Apr 2006 -  7 Mar 2007  Han Myung Sook (f)                 (b. 1944)            UD
 7 Mar 2007 -  2 Apr 2007  Kwon O Kyu (acting)                (b. 1952)            UD
 2 Apr 2007 - 29 Feb 2008  Han Duck Soo (2nd time)            (s.a.)               Non-party
29 Feb 2008 -              Han Seung Soo                      (b. 1936)            Non-party


Chinese Director-general
Oct 1885 - 17 Apr 1895     Yuan Shi-kai                       (b. 1859 - d. 1916)  Mil

Commanders of United States and United Nations Forces
 8 Jul 1950 - 11 Apr 1951  Douglas MacArthur (U.S.)           (b. 1880 - d. 1964)
11 Apr 1951 - 12 May 1952  Matthew Bunker Ridgway (U.S.)      (b. 1895 - d. 1993)
12 May 1952 - 28 Jul 1953  Mark W. Clark (U.S.)               (b. 1896 - d. 1984) 

  Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Exile

[Korea Flag 1883-1910]
      1 Mar 1919 - 29 Jun 1942
[Korea, 1948-1950 flag]
     29 Jun 1942 - 15 Aug 1945

 1 Mar 1919                Independence declared from Japan during March First Movement
                             (not recognized).

10 Apr 1919                Exile government organized.
15 Sep 1919                Provisional Government of Republic of Korea formed 

                             exile in Shanghai, China in the French Concession
                            (not internationally recognized).
1937 - 1945                Relocated to Chongqing (Chungking), China.

15 Aug 1945                Dissolved following Japanese surrender.

Chairman of the Provisional Legislative Assembly
10 Apr 1919 -  6 Sep 1919  Lee Dong Nyong (Yi Dongnyeong)     (d. 1940)
Presidents
 6 Sep 1919 - 23 Mar 1925  Syngman Rhee                       (s.a.)
                             (to 8 Dec 1920 in Washington, DC)
23 Mar 1925 -  1 Nov 1925  Park Eun Sik                       (b. 1861 - d. 1925)
 1 Nov 1925 - Aug 1927     Post abolished
Chairmen
Aug 1927 - Mar 1933        Lee Dong Nyong (1st time)          (s.a.)
Mar 1933 - Jan 1934        Song Pyung Jo
Jan 1934 - Oct 1935        Yang Ki Suk
Oct 1935 - Nov 1935        Lee Dong Nyong (2nd time)          (s.a.) 
Nov 1935 - Nov 1936        Lee Si Yong
Nov 1936 - Oct 1940        Lee Dong Nyong (3rd time)          (s.a.)
Oct 1940 - Aug 1945        Kim Gu (Kim Ku)                    (b. 1876 - d. 1949)

Prime minister
10 Apr 1919 - 23 Apr 1919  Syngman Rhee                       (s.a.)
Chief Executive
23 Apr 1919 - 23 Sep 1919  Syngman Rhee                       (s.a.)
Prime ministers
13 Apr 1919 - 15 Sep 1919  Lee Dong Nyong (1st time)          (s.a.)
23 Sep 1919 - Jan 1921     Lee Tong Hui (Yi Donghwhi)         (b. 1873 - d. 1935)
Jan 1921 - May 1921        Lee Dong Nyong (2nd time)          (s.a.)
May 1921 - Sep 1922        Shin Kyu Sik (Sin Gyu-sik)         (b. 1879 - d. 1922)
Sep 1922 - Apr 1924        Lho Bak Rin (1st time)
Apr 1924 - Dec 1924        Lee Dong Nyong (3rd time)          (s.a.)
Dec 1924 - Mar 1925        Park Eun Sik                       (s.a.)
Mar 1925 - Jul 1925        Lho Bak Rin (2nd time)
1925                       Lee Sang Yong (Yi Sang-ryong)      (b. 1858 - d. 1932)
1925                       Yang Ki Suk
Dec 1925 - Dec 1926        Hong Jin (Hong Myeon-hui)          (b. 1877 - d. 1946)
Dec 1926 - Apr 1927        Kim Gu                             (s.a.)
Apr 1927                   Post abolished

  ¹The full style of the ruler was:
(a) 27 Mar 1393 -  7 Jan 1895: Seongju Sangteon Cheonha {untranslatable}, Choseon Kukwang
([Chinese: Zhaoxian guowang] "King of the Choseon State");
(b) 7 Jan 1895 - 12 Oct 1897: Taegunju P'yeha {untranslatable}, Choseon Kukwang
("King of the Choseon State"); 
(c) 12 Oct 1897 - 29 Aug 1910: Taehan Hwangje ([Chinese: Daihan huangdi] "Emperor of Great Han").

Territorial Disputes: Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limiting Line, which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954.

Party abbreviations: JMY = Jayu Minju Yonmaeng (United Liberal Democrats, conservative);
HD = Hannara Dang (Grand National Party, conservative); MD = Minju Dang (Democratic Party); SMD = Saecheonnyeonminju Dang (Millennium Democratic Party [in Korean, called simply Democratic Party], center-left, est. 20 Jan 2000 formerly SJKH); Mil = Military; 
- Former parties: CND = Choson Nodongdang (Workers Party of [North] Korea, dictatorial communist); DJP = Democratic Justice Party (1980-9 Feb 1990 merged with MDD); DP = Democratic Party (opposition to Syngman Ree and LP); DPR = Reunification Democratic Party (1981-9 Feb 1990, merged into MDD); DRP = Democratic Republican Party (govt. party 1963-1980);
LP = Liberal Party (pro-Syngman Ree); MDD = Democratic Liberal Party (est. 9 Feb 1990 merger of DJP, Reunification Democratic Party [RDP] and New Democratic Republican Party [RDNP]; Dec 1995 became New Korea Party [SHD]); RDNP = New Democratic Republican Party (1987-9 Feb 1990, merged into MDD); SD = Sinmindang (New Democratic Party, formed in Nov 1960 by splinters of DP); SHD = Shin Hankuk Dang (New Korea Party, center-right, later part of HD); SJKH = Sae Jungchi Kukmin Hoiee (National Congress for New Politics, personalist, centrist, from 20 Jan 2000 MD); UD = Yeollin Uri Party (Our Open Party, liberal, 2003-18 Aug 2007)







©2000  Ben Cahoon