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South Korea GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
System of Government: Constitution of Sixth Republic
approved October 1987; effective February 1988. Strong
presidency; president elected for one five-year-term by direct
popular vote. 224 members of 299-member National Assembly elected
by popular vote for four-year-term in April 1988; rest appointed
by political parties according to proportional formula.
Justice: Administration of justice as function of
courts established under Constitution and amended Court
Organization Law of 1949. Supreme Court highest organ of court
system; appellate courts and district courts. Constitution Court
decides constitutionality of a law, dissolution of a political
party, impeachment, petitions relating to Constitution, disputes
between state agencies, or between state agencies and local
governments. Family Court adjudicates domestic affairs and
juvenile delinquency. Courts-martial have jurisdiction over
offenses committed by armed forces personnel and civilian
military employees.
Administrative Divisions: Nine provinces and six
provincial-level cities. Provinces divided into counties and
ordinary cities; counties into townships and towns; townships
into villages. Mostly part of central government; increasing
self-government.
Politics: Multiparty system, but political parties with
contrary aims or activities may be dissolved by Constitution
Court.
Foreign Affairs: Member of most international
organizations but no formal membership in United Nations in mid1990 . Mutual defense treaty with United States, which along with
Japan, one of two most important foreign policy partners.
Relations with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North
Korea) treated as "internal" rather than "foreign"; public and
private contacts increasing.
Data as of June 1990
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