South Korean acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will resign on Thursday, May 1st to prepare for the presidential election scheduled for June 3rd. According to reports from the Korean News Agency, Han Duck-soo is set to announce his resignation in the afternoon and is expected to officially declare his candidacy on May 2nd.
In accordance with South Korean law, presidential candidates must resign from their current public position at least 30 days before the election day. Han Duck-soo must resign by May 4th at the latest. After his resignation, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will act as the interim president.
The 75-year-old Han Duck-soo has been serving as the Prime Minister since 2022 and took over as acting president in December last year after then-President Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached for declaring martial law. He has garnered widespread public support for his steady leadership style and rich administrative experience. Recent polls show Han Duck-soo’s rising popularity within the conservative camp, making him a favored candidate of the ruling party, the “People Power Party.”
The upcoming election is held following the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol by the Constitutional Court. Yoon Suk-yeol faced impeachment for imposing martial law in response to a parliamentary deadlock led by the opposition party in December last year, citing unconstitutional actions. On April 4th this year, the Constitutional Court unanimously ruled in favor of the impeachment, leading to Yoon Suk-yeol’s official removal from office and facing criminal charges including incitement to rebellion.
During his time as acting president, Han Duck-soo faced impeachment and suspension from office on December 27, 2024, after refusing to appoint Constitutional Court judges recommended by the parliament, which led to conflicts with the opposition-led parliament. The Constitutional Court rejected the impeachment on March 24 this year, allowing him to resume his duties as Prime Minister.
Currently, the main rival of the ruling party, the “Together Democratic Party,” is former party leader Lee Jae-myung, who is facing a judicial investigation for alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act. The case is now under review by the Supreme Court, with the final verdict expected to be announced on May 1st. If fined more than one million South Korean won, he will be banned from running for five years. Additionally, Lee is implicated in several corruption and real estate development scandals.
The People Power Party plans to officially announce its presidential candidate on May 3rd. If Han Duck-soo decides to run, it will undoubtedly inject new competitiveness into the conservative camp, significantly impacting the election landscape.