Constitution of the Republic of Korea

The 1987 constitution restoring direct presidential elections after democratic struggle.

Overview

South Koreas ninth constitution since 1948, adopted in October 1987 after massive June democracy demonstrations, restored direct presidential election with a single five year term, ending decades of authoritarian rule under constitutional facade. It entrenches a comprehensive bill of rights, adds the duty of the state to guarantee democratization as constitutional value, and features a strong Constitutional Court that has adjudicated party dissolutions and presidential impeachments, including 2016 and 2024. It declares the territory of the republic to cover the whole peninsula, making unification a constitutional aspiration rather than mere policy.