Han Duck-soo declares candidacy in June 3 election to switch impeached ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol.
South Korea has sworn in its third performing president in lower than six months, as his predecessor declared his candidacy in a snap election to switch impeached ex-leader Yoon Suk-yeol.
Training Minister Lee Ju-ho pledged to make sure “stability” as he was appointed performing chief on Friday, a day after Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stepped right down to run within the June 3 election.
“I’ll strive my greatest to make sure authorities capabilities are managed stably,” Lee advised reporters.
The appointment of a brand new performing president got here as Han’s candidacy injected extra uncertainty into an election race that has been upended by doubts over the eligibility of the left-leaning frontrunner, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Celebration.
“I’ve decided to seek out what I can do for the way forward for the Republic of Korea that I like and for all of us,” Han advised a information convention on the Nationwide Meeting on Friday.
“I’ll strive my utmost to be chosen by the individuals at this presidential election.”
On Thursday, the Supreme Courtroom overturned Lee Jae-myung’s acquittal on election legislation violations, sending the case again to a decrease court docket.
If his conviction is upheld earlier than the election, Lee, who has dominated polls for months, can be disqualified from the race.
Subsequent month’s election was referred to as after Yoon, a former prosecutor-turned-conservative politician, was faraway from workplace over his shock declaration of martial legislation in December.
Whereas Yoon’s declaration lasted lower than six hours earlier than being voted down by South Korea’s legislature, the political uncertainty and chaos it unleashed continues to reverberate practically six months later.
Han, 75, took over as performing president following Yoon’s impeachment on December 14, earlier than he was himself impeached and changed by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok.
In March, the Constitutional Courtroom overturned Han’s impeachment, restoring him to the position of performing chief.
A veteran politician and bureaucrat, Han has served as prime minister in each liberal and conservative administrations, in addition to doing stints as commerce minister, finance minister, and ambassador to the US.
Whereas not affiliated with a political social gathering, Han is anticipated to ally with Yoon’s conservative Folks Energy Celebration.
He stated his marketing campaign platform would concentrate on limiting the facility of the chief and amending the structure so as to add extra checks and balances.
Following Han’s announcement, the Democratic Celebration accused him of abandoning his duties as a caretaker chief.
“We warn former Prime Minister Han. Don’t cover your greed with a lie that you’re operating for the individuals,” Democratic Celebration spokesperson Noh Jong-myun stated.