Government of Korea: Introduction

ROK has a presidential form of government unlike India's parliamentary system. The powers are shared with a unicameral legislature and judiciary, with a fairly independent executive office of the president. The president is elected through a direct election for a term of five years. However, he also appoints a Prime Minister which helps him in his duties. The president also has a state council of 18 ministers which form the rest of the executive branch. The legislators for the National Assembly are elected for four year terms - 243 for single seat districts, and the remaining 56 based on proportional representation. ROK has nine provinces and seven administratively separate cities. The Judiciary is independent under the constitution with judges being elected partially by the executive and partially by legislature.

Local Government in Korea

Local autonomy is included in the Korean constitution, however, over the periods of autocratic rule, the provincial governments were controlled by the central government. However, after 1995 a large degree of local autonomy was restored. Korea is divided up into a multilayred administrative system. Tier one are the province nine provinces and seven 'special' cities which are further divided up into cities (si), counties (gun), districts (gu), towns (eup), townships (myeon), neighborhoods (dong), and villages (ri). Officias are elected at province, district/county, special city, and city level. Officials below these levels are appointed by the county or local government. However, local governments have little autonomy and are limited to overseeing implementation of national policies since only the chief executives of districts are elected while others are appointed by the central government.

Ministry of Government Administration & Home Affairs (MOGAHA)

The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs is in charge of
the key functions connected directly to government administration and national
existence as the ministry supporting and managing government administration,
supporting and regulating local governments, and managing national disasters
and maintaining order. MOGAHA is staffed by 2,009 civil servants across the
country.

Major Functions:

• Government Reinvention &
  Administration
• Local Autonomy & Finance
• Regional Balanced Development

Civil Service in Korea

Like the system in India, it is necessary to pass a civil service exam for entry into the Korean civil service. Positions are allocated based on a complex grading system which is largely based on seniority. Reforms carried out in 1998 have tried to make changes to this system. The bulk of the civil servants are employed by the central government and executive branch. Most civil servants are career civil servants and not political appointees, however there are also contract civil servants hired for specific tasks.