Seoul, South Korea - South Korea's acting president Han Duck-soo said on Thursday that he is resigning and taking on "heavy responsibilities" as he expects he will run for next month's presidential election.

South Korea has become a potential bearer of conservative standards, with South Korean media reporting that he will officially launch his presidential campaign on Friday.

Han said: “I have two roads ahead.” I finally decided to put down my posts to do my best and have to help overcome the crisis we are facing. ”

South Korea was appointed prime minister by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, the country's second place, whose removal from office triggered a by-election to be held on June 3.

The conservative People's Power Party imposed martial law on Yoon on December 3 and fell into chaos. Observers say Han is expected to align with the People's Power Party to launch a unified conservative movement against Liberal striker Lee Ye Mengmeng.

Han, 75, is a professional bureaucrat with about 40 years of public service and a PhD in economics from Harvard University. He has held top positions under the Conservative and Liberal governments, including the Minister of Trade, Treasury and U.S. Ambassador to the United States, and he served twice as Prime Minister, first as Liberal President Roh Moo-hyun in 2007-2008 and later 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 aggressive tariff policies and other economic issues. But his critics say Han (never elected) has no strong base of political support, is too old to become president, and lacks difficult leadership to resolve controversial issues.

Lee won the nomination of the main liberal opposition Democrat on Sunday and was won.

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