Speculation Grows Over Han Ducksoo's Imminent Candidacy... Attention on Possible Official Announcement Before the 4th of Next Month

Possibility of Official Candidacy Announcement After the 24th This Month
Visits ROK-US Combined Forces Command to Encourage Troops

Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, Acting President, visited the funeral hall of Pope Francis set up at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul on the 22nd to pay his respects. Photo by Yonhap News

With speculation mounting about Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, Acting President, potentially running for president, there are expectations that he may officially announce his candidacy after the scheduled Korea-US '2+2 High-Level Trade Talks' and the supplementary budget policy speech on the 24th. It is reported that he is considering strengthening his support base by leveraging the achievements of the Korea-US trade negotiations, and then officially declaring his candidacy before the deadline for public officials to resign, which falls on the 4th of next month.

According to the Prime Minister's Office on the 23rd, Han visited the ROK-US Combined Forces Command at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, to encourage the troops. After being welcomed by the personnel of the Combined Forces Command, Han moved to the main building and discussed security issues with General Xavier Brunson, Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command.

This visit to a military unit comes just three weeks after his previous visit on the 1st of this month. Earlier, Han had visited the Army 1st Division, a front-line unit on the western front, and the Joint Security Area (JSA) Guard Battalion in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, to encourage both Korean and US troops. By visiting the military again to inspect military readiness, he is also making efforts to indirectly showcase the strength of the Korea-US alliance.

As Han continues to employ a 'NCND' (neither confirm nor deny) strategy regarding his candidacy, and has recently been highly active, political circles remain unconvinced, with suspicions that he is in fact preparing for a presidential run. As soon as the funeral altar for Pope Francis was set up at Myeongdong Cathedral the previous afternoon, Han immediately paid his respects, stating, "I express my deep gratitude and condolences to Pope Francis, who practiced love for the poor and the socially disadvantaged."

At a Cabinet meeting the previous morning, Han mentioned regarding the US trade talks that "we will pave the way for mutually beneficial solutions." He has also raised his profile through interviews with international media such as CNN and the Financial Times (FT), and on the 22nd, he gave another interview to an economic news outlet. Recently, he has been sending out daily messages emphasizing social integration and the livelihoods of the people.

An official from the Prime Minister’s Office stated, "Following Han's visit to the JSA earlier this month, his visit to the ROK-US Combined Forces Command demonstrates his commitment to the Korea-US alliance ahead of the trade talks," and added, "Since the Korea-US 2+2 Trade Talks will be held at 9 p.m. on the 24th (8 a.m. US time), we are doing our utmost to achieve positive results."