The government of the Republic of Korea was formed on August 15, 1948. Three months earlier, the first 198 members of the National Assembly had been elected in the country’s first general election held under UN supervision. On July 17 of the same year, the first National Assembly promulgated the Constitution. Its members elected Syngman Rhee as the first President on July 20, 1948. The 3rd UN General Assembly held in Paris in December of that year passed a resolution that the government established in the south of the 38th parallel was the only legitimate government on the Korean Peninsula.

Korea’s Constitution was promulgated on July 17, 1948, after a month and a half of work for its enactment. The Korean government celebrates July 17 as a national holiday. The first amendment to the Constitution was made in July 1952, and the 9th and last amendment was passed by referendum on October 27, 1987. The country’s Constitution adopts liberal democracy as the basic principle of governance. The Constitution guarantees the people’s freedom and rights under various laws. It also guarantees equal opportunities in all sectors, including politics, economy, society, and culture, and recognizes the necessity of establishing a welfare state. The Constitution also stipulates that all people have an obligation to pay taxes, engage in national defense, educate their children, and work. The Constitution states that the country should endeavor to maintain international peace. It stipulates that international treaties signed and promulgated by the country and generally accepted international laws have the same effects as domestic laws. According to the Constitution, the status of aliens is guaranteed in accordance with international laws and treaties.

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