ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the change of the political structure in the Republic of Korea (hereafter South Korea or Korea) since 1948, focusing on the characteristics of checks and balances within and between the three powers of the executive, legislative, and judiciary. Mainly drawing on constitutional amendments and changes in related laws, the chapter examines reforms of formal political institutions, such as the government organization, election system, and legal norms, while providing explanations regarding informal practices. The chapter’s structure follows the sequence of the AQ : please check change.Six Republics, beginning with the First Republic in 1948 and ending in the present (2020). Each section is subdivided into paragraphs that address (1) the executive versus the legislative, (2) the election system, (3) local self-government, and (4) the judiciary.
