Why South Korea's Acting President Han Duck-soo is Skipping the Presidential Primary

Han Duck-soo's Decision on Presidential Primary

Seoul: Han Duck-soo, the Acting President of South Korea, has announced that he will not take part in the presidential primary of the People Power Party (PPP) scheduled for June 3. This announcement comes amidst ongoing speculation regarding his potential candidacy, as confirmed by Kweon Seong-dong, the party's floor leader.

Kweon emphasized that continuing to speculate about Han's candidacy could detract from public interest in the primary and hinder his responsibilities as Acting President.

Despite being a popular figure in recent polls, Han indicated on Monday that he intends to focus on addressing the US tariff crisis, a statement interpreted as a sign that he is stepping back from a presidential run.

Kweon also highlighted the importance of selecting a strong candidate capable of defeating Lee Jae-myung, the former leader of the Democratic Party and a prominent contender, accusing Lee of hindering government operations.

He urged party members to unite against Lee Jae-myung, who he claims would lead the nation into ongoing political turmoil.

The South Korean government has set June 3 as the date for the upcoming presidential election, following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

This decision was made during a Cabinet meeting shortly after the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon's impeachment due to his brief imposition of martial law last December.

According to the Constitution, a new election must occur within 60 days of a presidential vacancy.

Additionally, June 3 has been declared a temporary public holiday.

The National Election Commission initiated early candidate registration following Yoon's dismissal last Friday.

Candidates must register by May 11, with the official campaign period commencing on May 12.

The law mandates that any public servant running for President must resign at least 30 days prior to the election, setting May 4 as the cutoff date.

The newly elected President will take office immediately after the election without a transition team.