South Korea's ex-Prime Minister Han says he will seek Presidency in June election
The Hindu
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo enters South Korea's Presidential race, aiming to unify conservatives and amend the Constitution
South Korea's former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Friday (May 2, 2025) he will run in next month's Presidential election and would seek to lessen the powers of the office and ease strife-ridden domestic politics if he wins.
Mr. Han's entry heats up the scramble among conservatives to unify behind a candidate to compete with liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung, whose campaign recently was set back by a court decision to open a new trial on election law violation charges.
“I've determined to find what I can do for the future of the Republic of Korea that I love and for all of us," Mr. Han told a press conference at the National Assembly.
South Korea is holding an early Presidential election on June 3 after conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted over his imposition of martial law. Mr. Han had been appointed Prime Minister, the No. 2 post, by Mr. Yoon, and he served as acting leader after Mr. Yoon was suspended and later removed from office.
Mr. Han also was Prime Minister under liberal President Roh Moo-hyun from 2007 to 2008 and has served as Trade Minister, Finance Minister and Ambassador to the U.S. during his 40-year career. He has never held elected office but has risen politically as the main conservative People Power Party struggles in the wake of Mr. Yoon's ouster.
Mr. Han does not belong to a political party, but contenders in the PPP have said they are willing to field a single candidate among them and Mr. Han. PPP members are scheduled to nominate their party's candidate Saturday (May 3).
Mr. Han said that if elected, he would launch a body to amend the Constitution so the President and the assembly share powers based on the principle of checks and balances. His revisions would also bar the political circle and the Judiciary branch from meddling in each other's sectors.
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