List of Presidents of South Korea: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of South Korea from 1948 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of South Korea, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of South Korea: Lee Jae-myung (in office since 2025).

Presidents of South Korea in order, with years in office

Syngman Rhee

Served: 1948–1960

First president, elected by the Constituent Assembly; he resigned in April 1960 after the April Revolution.

Yun Po-sun

Served: 1960–1962

Ceremonial president of the Second Republic; he resigned in 1962 after the 1961 military coup.

Park Chung Hee

Served: 1963–1979

Seized power in a 1961 coup, then served as elected president until his assassination in October 1979; the longest-serving president.

Choi Kyu-hah

Served: 1979–1980

Prime minister who acted as president from 26 October 1979 and was elected president in December; he resigned in August 1980.

Park Choong-hoon

Served: 1980 (acting)

Prime minister who acted as president from 16 August to 1 September 1980.

Chun Doo-hwan

Served: 1980–1988

Army general who took power in 1979–1980 and served until the 1988 transfer of power; he was later convicted of crimes related to the 1980 coup.

Roh Tae-woo

Served: 1988–1993

First president elected by direct vote under the current Sixth Republic constitution; he hosted the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Kim Young-sam

Served: 1993–1998

First civilian president in more than 30 years.

Kim Dae-jung

Served: 1998–2003

Former opposition leader; he won the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize.

Roh Moo-hyun

Served: 2003–2008

Human rights lawyer; the National Assembly impeached him in 2004 and the Constitutional Court restored him after two months.

Lee Myung-bak

Served: 2008–2013

Former chief executive of Hyundai Engineering and Construction and mayor of Seoul.

Park Geun-hye

Served: 2013–2017

First woman president and a daughter of Park Chung Hee; she was removed from office on 10 March 2017.

Moon Jae-in

Served: 2017–2022

Human rights lawyer who won a snap election in May 2017.

Yoon Suk Yeol

Served: 2022–2025

Former prosecutor general; he was impeached after declaring martial law in December 2024 and removed by the Constitutional Court on 4 April 2025.

Han Duck-soo

Served: 2024–2025 (acting)

Prime minister who acted as president from 14 December 2024, was himself impeached on 27 December, and was reinstated on 24 March 2025; he resigned on 1 May 2025.

Choi Sang-mok

Served: 2024–2025 (acting)

Finance minister who acted as president while Han was suspended, from 27 December 2024 to 24 March 2025.

Lee Ju-ho

Served: 2025 (acting)

Deputy prime minister who acted as president from 1 May 2025 until the new president took office.

Lee Jae-myung

Served: 2025–present

Democratic Party leader who won the June 2025 snap election and took office on 4 June 2025 for a single five-year term.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of South Korea

Who is the current president of South Korea?

The current head of state of South Korea is Lee Jae-myung, in office since 2025.

Who were the previous presidents of South Korea?

The presidents and heads of state of South Korea listed on this page, in order, are: Syngman Rhee, Yun Po-sun, Park Chung Hee, Choi Kyu-hah, Park Choong-hoon, Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, Moon Jae-in, Yoon Suk Yeol, Han Duck-soo, Choi Sang-mok, Lee Ju-ho, Lee Jae-myung.

Who was the first president of South Korea?

Syngman Rhee was the first president of South Korea, in office 1948–1960.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of South Korea; Korea Herald, Korea Times and AP reports (checked Nov 2026). Fourteen presidents have served 21 terms. Acting presidents are listed and labelled; the brief 1960 caretaker governments and Park Chung Hee's 1961–1963 military rule are not listed as separate entries.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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