In brief
With an impending presidential election on June 3, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo resigns, signaling his desire to lead South Korea through its current political crisis.
In a significant move on Thursday, South Korea's acting president and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced his resignation, hinting that he is gearing up for a presidential bid in the upcoming June 3 election. This decision comes after the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who appointed Han as his deputy. Mr. Han has been contemplating his candidacy for some time. His resignation follows a recent court ruling that poses a threat to the frontrunner, Lee Jae-myung, representing the majority Democratic Party. This ruling adds another layer of uncertainty to an election that many hope can resolve months of political chaos triggered when Yoon declared martial law. “I have decided to step down to help our nation face the crisis we are in,” Han said in his statement, although he didn’t explicitly confirm his presidential intentions. Local media expect he will clarify his ambitions in an upcoming press conference.
