In brief
Han Duck-soo, South Korea's acting president and Prime Minister, has officially resigned as he prepares to enter the race for the presidency, following a tumultuous political period that included the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
South Korea's political landscape is shifting as acting President Han Duck-soo announced his resignation on Thursday, indicating his intention to run for the presidency in the upcoming June 3 election. This development comes in the wake of significant political upheaval, triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who previously appointed Han as Prime Minister.Han's departure marks a pivotal moment, with discussions about his candidacy having circulated for weeks. The timing of his resignation is notable, especially after a recent Supreme Court ruling that undermined the presidential ambitions of Lee Jae-myung, the leading candidate from the Democratic Party.In his resignation statement, Han expressed his commitment to addressing the crisis facing the nation, saying, "I have decided to step down to do what I can do and what I should to help overcome the crisis our nation faces." Despite not explicitly announcing his candidacy, many interpret his words as a clear indication of his presidential aspirations. Local media expects Han to hold a press conference soon to formally declare his bid for the presidency.The upcoming election is seen as a critical juncture for South Korea, as citizens look for stability following months of political turmoil, which escalated when Yoon declared martial law late last year. Han temporarily filled the leadership void following Yoon's removal but faced his own impeachment before being reinstated as acting president by the Constitutional Court. As the election approaches, the political dynamics are still fluid, with Han's candidacy introducing yet another layer of complexity to the already charged atmosphere.
