South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo resigns, launches presidential bid

South Korea’s acting president Han Duck-soo stepped down on May 1, declaring his candidacy for the June 3 presidential election, ending weeks of speculation over his political ambitions.

Han made the announcement during a press conference at the government complex in Seoul, formally entering the race triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media.

"Thinking of the weight of the responsibility I carry at this grave time, after thinking long and carefully about whether such a decision is in fact right and inevitable, I decided that if this is the only way, I must take it," he said.

To recall, on December 14, 2024, South Korea's National Assembly voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his abrupt declaration of martial law, marking a significant political upheaval in the nation. The impeachment motion passed with 204 votes in favour, 85 against, three abstentions, and eight invalid ballots in the 300-member legislature. Notably, at least 12 members from Yoon's  People Power Party supported the motion, reflecting bipartisan concern over his actions.

Yoon's declaration of martial law on December 3 was intended to address what he termed "anti-state forces," but it was met with immediate backlash and rescinded within six hours after parliament intervened. The move sparked mass protests and was widely perceived as an overreach of executive power.

Following the impeachment vote, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo assumed the role of acting president. The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to decide whether to uphold the impeachment. If affirmed, Yoon would become the second South Korean president to be removed from office through impeachment, following Park Geun-hye in 2017.

Yoon has vowed to contest the impeachment, asserting his actions were necessary to protect national security. 

By Aghakazim Guliyev