Will the new president end South Korea’s cycle of ‘political revenge’?

Political peace: President Yoon shaking hands with former president, Moon Jae-in, upon his arrival to his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul. Whether he will take legal action against his immediate predecessor for any power abuse and other misdeeds remains unclear. – Reuters

YOON Suk-yeol is the 13th president of the Republic of Korea since its founding in 1948. Yet, he is officially called the 20th president as they count the number of four-year constitutional terms, including two short transitional tenures.

Syngman Rhee, the first president of the republic, held the office for 12 years in three consecutive terms until he resigned in 1960 following a student uprising. Yoon Po-sun succeeded him as the titular head of state in a parliamentary system, but he was soon removed by a military coup, which installed General Park Chung-hee as president. Following Park’s demise in 1979, Choi Kyu-hah served as an interim president until Chun Doo-hwan took over.