South Korea's 10th presidential election refers to the election of a successor to fill the remainder of his term on December 6, 1979, as President Park Chung-hee died on October 26, 1979 after failing to complete his term of office that was supposed to expire on December 26, 1984.

Acting President Choi Kyu-ha, the only candidate in the race, was elected with overwhelming approval ratings.

The election was conducted in a relatively free atmosphere, which was quite different from the previous one in the National Congress of Unification, with 82 invalid votes, a de facto opposition.

Acting President Choi Kyu-ha was formally inaugurated as president on December 21, but Chun Doo-hwan became a scarecrow president on December 12 when he staged a coup.