Seoul: Acting President Han Duck-soo is set to resign on Thursday, paving the way for his anticipated announcement to run in the June 3 presidential election. This development was revealed by government and political sources, signaling significant shifts in South Korea's political landscape.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Han has emerged as a leading conservative figure poised to contest against Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party. The election comes in the wake of the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, creating a vacuum that Han is expected to fill. His resignation is predicted to occur Thursday afternoon, following scheduled public engagements in the morning. The official announcement of his candidacy is slated for Friday.
Han's campaign is expected to focus on fostering national unity and mitigating the intense political polarization that has hindered South Korea's economic and social progress. Among the proposals under consideration are constitutional amendments to reduce the presidential term and facilitate power-sharing, as well as forming a bipartisan Cabinet.
Han's potential candidacy is likely to initiate discussions of a merger with the conservative People Power Party (PPP). The PPP is in the process of selecting its presidential candidate, with the decision set for Saturday. The two leading candidates, former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon and former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, have both indicated a willingness to collaborate with Han.
As a public official, Han is required to resign by May 4 to be eligible for the election. Concurrently, the PPP is evaluating timelines to solidify any potential merger to enhance their prospects in the upcoming election. Critical deadlines include May 7 for ordering election materials, May 11 for candidate registration, and May 25 for the commencement of ballot printing.