Former South Korean PM Han Duck-soo Enters Presidential Race Amid Political Turmoil

Han Duck-soo, the former South Korean Prime Minister, announced Friday that he would run in the presidential elections next month. He said he would try to reduce the power of the office if he won and ease strife within the country if he did.

Han’s entry intensifies the scramble for conservatives to unite behind a candidate who can compete with liberal frontrunner Lee Jae Myung, whose recent campaign was set back due to a court ruling to open a retrial on charges of election law violations.

“I am determined to do what I can for the future of my beloved Republic of Korea and all of us,” Han said at a National Assembly press conference. “I will do my best to win the election.”

South Korea will hold an early presidential vote on June 3, after the conservative president Yoon Suk Yeol, who had imposed martial law, was removed. Han was named prime minister and the No. Yoon appointed Han to the No. 2 position. He served as acting leader when Yoon was suspended, then removed from office.

Han was also the prime minister of the liberal Roh Moo Hyun in 2007 and 2008, and served as finance minister, trade minister, and ambassador to America during his 40 years in public service. He never held an elected office, but has gained political prominence as the conservative People Power Party struggles to recover from Yoon’s removal.

Han is not a member of a political party. However, the PPP contenders have stated that they would be willing to run a candidate from among themselves and Han. PPP members will nominate the party’s nominee on Saturday.

Han stated that if he were elected, he’d launch an organization to amend the Constitution so that the President and the Assembly share power based on the principle of checks and balances. Han’s revisions will also prevent the political circle from interfering in the judiciary branch.

South Korea’s executive power is heavily centralized in the president. There have been calls to change this.

After the election on June 3, the new president will have a single, full five-year term. Han, however, said that he would only serve for three years in order to complete the constitutional reform and then leave.

Han said that he would use his economic expertise to help resolve any trade disputes with the U.S. regarding President Donald Trump’s policies on tariffs.

Lee’s main liberal opposition Democratic Party, stepped up its offensive against Han, saying he is abandoning his duties as the government’s caretaker and lacks the moral standing to run for the presidency as a No. 2 official in the Yoon administration, responsible for many policy failures.

“We warn to former Prime Minister Han. Don’t hide your greed with a lie that you are running for the people,” party spokesperson Noh Jongmyun said.