South Korea’s Acting President Han Duck-soo Steps Down from Office.

Appointment

In May 2025, Han Duck-soo, the Acting President and Prime Minister (PM) of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), officially announced his resignation to run in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for June 3, 2025.


      - This election comes in the aftermath of the December 2024 impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office following widespread criticism over his controversial declaration of martial law.

      - Following Han Duck-soo’s resignation, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho assumed the role of acting president, marking the fourth leadership transition in South Korea since December 2024.

     

Main Point :-   (i) Han Duck-soo is a seasoned South Korean economist, diplomat, and politician, with a public service career spanning more than four decades.

      (ii) He previously served as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2008 under President Roh Moo-hyun, and again from 2022 to 2025 under President Yoon Suk Yeol. He also held the role of acting president during transitional periods.

(iii) In the upcoming election, he is expected to represent the People Power Party (PPP), South Korea’s main conservative political party, and will likely face strong competition from Lee Jae-myung, the current frontrunner and a prominent leader of the liberal Democratic Party (DP).

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