South Korea's acting leader resigns, he will run for president

Seoul, South Korea – South Korea – South Korea's acting leader Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo said he will resign on Thursday, taking on “heavy responsibilities” as he will run for next month's presidential election.

Han has become a potential carrier of conservative standards as the main conservative BJP fell into chaos amidst the astonishing martial law orders that removed President Yoon Suk Yeol in December. South Korea will officially launch his presidential campaign on Friday, South Korea reported.

“I have two ways. One person is completing the big responsibility I'm dealing with now. The other is taking that responsibility and taking on the heavier responsibility,” Han said in a national televised announcement. “I finally decided to put down my posts to do my best and that I have to help overcome the crisis we are facing.”

Observers say Yoon has appointed the country's second-place prime minister and he is expected to align with the People's Powers Party to launch a unified Conservative movement against Liberal striker Lee Jae-Myung.

Han, 75, is a professional bureaucrat with about 40 years of public service and a PhD in economics from Harvard University. He held senior positions under the Conservative Party and the Liberal government, including Trade Minister, Treasury Secretary and U.S. Ambassador, and he served twice as Prime Minister, first under Liberal President Roh Moo-Hyun from 2007 to 2008 and later under Yoon.

Han’s supporters say his extensive administration experience, especially in economic affairs, will make him the right leader to deal with President Donald Trump’s active tariff policies and other economic issues. But his critics say Han never got elected, he had no strong political support base, and was too old to become president.

With South Korea's resignation, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-Mok became acting president until the new leader was elected on June 3.

Lee won a nomination for the main liberal opposition Democrat on Sunday, and he loves winning. But his campaign suffered a blow Thursday after the Supreme Court ordered a lower court to review his review of his convictions for election violations.

While it is unclear that the Seoul High Court will file a new ruling against Lee before the June 3 election, the development provides a political offensive for his conservative rival. Under South Korean law, anyone who fined more than 1 million won ($683) for violating the election law is prohibited from participating in the five-year election.

Lee won 38% of the support ratings, while South Korea has 6% and four BJP volunteers have won 23% of the championship.

The People's Power Party will elect its candidates this Saturday.

After the free opposition to opposition parliament announced on December 14 that it would put the country in turmoil, Han began to serve as an acting leader in an attempt to reassure diplomatic partners and stabilize the market.

But Han quickly clashed with Lee's Democrats as he refused to fill three vacant seats in the nine-member Constitutional Court, which is considering whether to formally reject or restore Yoon. The court's decision to dismiss Yuan's decision requires the support of at least six judges.

In late December, Democrats and other minor opposition parties voted to bomb Han, accusing him of blocking the restoration of all members of the court and teaching Yoon's martial law. However, in March, the Constitutional Court overturned Han's impeachment and resumed the acting president. In early April, the court ruled to reject the Yuan.