Expresses Determination to "See It Through to the End"
Vows to Complete the Presidential Race Without Withdrawing
Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, Acting President, is delivering a public address at the Government Seoul Office on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News
Han Ducksoo, Acting President and Prime Minister, effectively hinted at a presidential bid by announcing his resignation on the 1st. Han is expected to officially declare his candidacy for the presidency at the National Assembly on the 2nd. With the Acting President entering the race for the presidency, the political landscape for the upcoming election is expected to undergo significant changes. In particular, the political calculations of both the ruling and opposition parties are likely to become even more complicated, as the Supreme Court overturned the not-guilty verdict from the appellate court for Lee Jaemyung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, and sent the case back for retrial on the grounds of guilt.
On the afternoon of the 1st, Han delivered a public address at the Government Seoul Office, stating, "To overcome the crisis we are facing, I have ultimately decided to step down from my position to do what I must."
Although Han's resignation speech did not directly mention a presidential run, his emphasis that "for the sake of the nation, I will follow the path I believe is best, without any excuses, until the very end, both now and in the future," has been interpreted as reflecting his determination to seek the presidency. Analysts see this as a sign that Han intends to complete the presidential race without giving up midway, even if he faces obstacles such as the need for conservative unification.
In his resignation statement, Han repeatedly highlighted the national crisis. He stressed, "Whether Korea, now among the world's top 10 economies, will grow solidly to the level of the G7, or stagnate and fall behind; whether Korean politics will move toward cooperation or descend into extreme partisanship?these two outcomes are now in our hands." He further raised his criticism of political practices that hinder Korea's economic development and growth.
Criticism of "Economic Policies Swayed by Votes"
Han also expressed strong caution against populism. He pointed out, "With irrational economic policies that change according to votes, we cannot secure our national interests in external negotiations, nor can we build industrial competitiveness or revitalize regional economies." He warned, "Unless we abandon extreme politics and establish a foundation for cooperation, whoever takes power will only see repeated division and conflict."
Han also mentioned that he had deeply agonized over remaining silent without confirming or denying the rumors of his candidacy. He confessed, "Given the weight of responsibility I bear in these grave times, I have long pondered whether such a decision is truly right and inevitable," adding, "I have been considering what path would fulfill my responsibilities." This appears to take into account criticism that an Acting President running for office is akin to "the referee becoming a player."
However, despite such concerns, one of the main reasons Han decided to run is believed to be the 'Korea-U.S. 2+2 Trade Negotiations.' As the world entered a tariff war, Han fulfilled his role as a diplomatic and trade expert during phone calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and throughout the Korea-U.S. trade negotiations. It is interpreted that he judged he could play an even greater role for the national interest going forward.
Politics Lacking 'Reasonable Debate' Leads to Direct Involvement
Han also delivered sharp criticism of the "politics devoid of cooperation" he witnessed as Prime Minister. He pointed out, "Korea is a nation that has always overcome crises through unity, but now our society is mired in the swamp of polarized camps, having failed to achieve any reasonable debate for years." Analysts interpret this as an indirect indication of his motivation to enter politics. It is expected that his future political activities will focus on "resolving conflict" and "promoting unity."
Han, who announced his resignation as Prime Minister on this day, is expected to officially declare his presidential candidacy at the National Assembly on the 2nd. His resignation is scheduled to be accepted at midnight on the 2nd, after which Choi Sangmok, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy and Finance, who is third in the cabinet order of precedence, will assume the role of Acting President.
Since taking office on May 21, 2022, Han has served for 1,077 days, setting the record for the longest-serving Prime Minister since democratization.
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