Editing President of South Korea (section)

==Powers and duties of the president==
Chapter 3 of the South Korean constitution states the duties and the powers of the president. The president is required to:
* uphold the Constitution
* preserve the safety and homeland of South Korea
* work for the peaceful [[Korean reunification|reunification of Korea]], typically act as the Chairperson of the [[Peaceful Unification Advisory Council]]

Also, the president is given the powers:
* as the head of the [[Executive (government)|executive branch]] of government
* as the commander-in-chief of the South Korean military
* to [[Declaration of war|declare war]]
* to hold [[referendum]]s regarding issues of national importance
* to issue [[decree|executive orders]]
* to issue medals in honor of service for the nation
* to issue pardons
* to declare a [[state of emergency]] suspending all laws or enacting a state of [[martial law]]
* to veto bills (subject to a two thirds majority veto override by the National Assembly)<ref>Article 53 of the [[Constitution of the Republic of Korea]]</ref>

If the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]] votes against a presidential decision, it will be declared void immediately.

The president may refer important policy matters to a national referendum, declare war, conclude peace and other treaties, appoint senior public officials, and grant amnesty (with the concurrence of the National Assembly). In times of serious internal or external turmoil or threat, or economic or financial crises, the president may assume emergency powers "for the maintenance of national security or public peace and order." Emergency measures may be taken only when the National Assembly is not in session and when there is no time for it to convene. The measures are limited to the "minimum necessary".

The 1987 Constitution removed the 1980 Constitution's explicit provisions that empowered the government to temporarily suspend the freedoms and rights of the people. However, the president is permitted to take other measures that could amend or abolish existing laws for the duration of a crisis. It is unclear whether such emergency measures could temporarily suspend portions of the Constitution itself. Emergency measures must be referred to the National Assembly for concurrence. If not endorsed by the assembly, the emergency measures can be revoked; any laws that had been overridden by presidential order regain their original effect. In this respect, the power of the legislature is more vigorously asserted than in cases of ratification of treaties or declarations of war, in which the Constitution simply states that the National Assembly "has the right to consent" to the president's actions. In a change from the 1980 Constitution, the 1987 Constitution stated that the president is not permitted to dissolve the National Assembly.