[4] Promulgated in 1919, the charter first gave the country the "Republic of Korea" name and laid out the ideas forming the backbone of later South Korean constitutions.

It gave the president to act as the head of state, be elected indirectly by the National Assembly, and share executive power with the cabinet.

[7] The 1948 Constitution was first amended in 1952 ahead of Syngman Rhee's re-election, providing for direct presidential elections and a bicameral legislature.

In 1954, Rhee again forced an amendment, removing term limits for himself and emphasizing a capitalistic economic model.

It also provided for elections for supreme court justices and provincial governors, as well as natural law-based individual rights.

It had a number of similarities to the United States Constitution, such as presidential elections held by the National Assembly in the event of a tie and carrying out judicial review by the ordinary Supreme Court instead of a specialized Constitutional Court, though in practice military government would continue in some form until democratization.

As with the Yushin Constitution, it provided for a presidential electoral college and a semi-presidential system of government.

Amendment of the Constitution of South Korea[8] We, the people of Korea, proud of a resplendent history and traditions dating from time immemorial, upholding the cause of the Provisional Republic of Korea Government born of the March First Independence Movement of 1919 and the democratic ideals of the April Nineteenth Uprising of 1960 against injustice, having assumed the mission of democratic reform and peaceful unification of our homeland and having determined to consolidate national unity with justice.

The spirit of April Nineteenth and March First Movement is stipulated in the preamble of the Constitution of South Korea.

RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF CITIZENS (4-687) Individuals may not be punished, placed under preventive restrictions, or subjected to involuntary labor except as provided by law.

Warrants must be issued by a judge "through due procedures," and accused persons may sue for wrongful arrest in certain cases.

In Article 119, stable and balanced growth rates, "proper distribution of income", and preventing "abuse of economic power" are explicitly listed as goals of the government.

[citation needed] Article 125 designates foreign trade as a strategic area to be fostered, regulated and coordinated by the government.

[11] The political neutrality of South Korea's Constitution is guaranteed in the area of military, administration, and education.

Article 6(2) of the Constitution stipulates that "The status and political neutrality of public officials shall be guaranteed by law".

Though earlier versions of the Constitution provided for various forms of judicial review, the judiciary's lack of independence at the time prevented it from exercising this function.