By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

As stated in Article 71 of the Constitution and Article 16 of the Government Organization Act, the prime minister assumes the presidency in situations where the president is removed from office or unable to perform his or her duties. 

This is an essential system to ensure the continuity of state operations.

The acting president temporarily assumes the powers and duties of the president, but is not technically the president.

The word “acting” makes this clear. However, beyond the temporary nature of the position, the acting president is the de facto president, and is responsible for the stability of the country and the operation of state affairs.

In the case of former acting presidents Heo Jung, Choi Kyu-ha, and Hwang Kyo-ahn, they all made important decisions in times of national crisis. 

This shows that the acting president is not just an “agent of president” but has important political and administrative responsibilities in its own right.

The problem is that despite the temporary nature of the role of acting president, the public perception and political burden is not unlike that of a president. 

This is because the acting president is responsible for making major policy decisions, promulgating legislation, and representing the country in the international community as the nation's chief executive.

Therefore, the acting president must go beyond the perception that he or she is “just the prime minister.” It is an important position that operates within the framework of the democratic process and separation of powers guaranteed by the Constitution.

Any decisions he or she makes may be temporary, but their impact can be permanent. For this reason, the acting president should be evaluated as an “acting president”.

While the current system is effective in preventing a state vacuum, there needs to be clear criteria for the scope and limits of the acting president's authority.

A combination of public awareness and legal reforms will be needed to ensure that the acting president can fulfill its central role in maintaining national stability and the rule of law.