South Korea’s acting leader, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, has resigned to take on “heavier responsibility” ahead of the country’s presidential election next month. Han is expected to launch a unified conservative campaign against liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung.
Han, 75, is a career bureaucrat with over 40 years of public service and a Harvard doctorate in economics. He has held several top posts under both conservative and liberal governments. Han’s supporters argue that his extensive experience would make him the right leader to handle economic issues, but critics say he lacks strong political support and is too old for the role.
Lee Jae-myung, who won the nomination of the Democratic Party on Sunday, faces a potential blow to his campaign after the Supreme Court ordered a review of his earlier cancellation of his conviction over election law violation charges. The development provides fodder for Lee’s conservative rivals.
Han’s resignation comes amid reports that he will run in the presidential election. He will formally end his term at midnight and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok was initially set to serve as acting leader, but resigned after the Democratic Party pushed to pass an impeachment motion.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-presidential-election-han-ducksoo-94a9814f6eec74d5b7dd9565cfa41f7e