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How did the Fifth Republic limit the South Korean president’s term in office?
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Under the constitution of the Fifth Republic, which was approved in October 1980, the South Korean president’s term in office was limited to a single seven-year term.1
This structure remained in place until 1987, when widespread popular dissatisfaction with the government led to a program of constitutional reforms. A revised constitution was subsequently approved by a national referendum, which reduced the presidential term from seven years to five years and introduced the direct popular election of the president.1