Han Duck Soo has replaced former president Yoon Soo Yeol, who declared his candidacy in the June 3rd elections.
South Korea was sworn into its third representative president less than six months as its predecessor declared his candidacy in the Snap election and replaced former leader Yoon Sook-Yeol, who had fired each.
Education Minister Lee Ju-Ho has pledged to ensure “stable” as he was appointed proxy leader on Friday, the day after he resigned in the June 3 election.
“We will do our best to ensure that the functions of the government are maintained and steady,” Lee told reporters.
The appointment of a new acting president came as Han’s candidacy injected more uncertainty into the election competition. This was covered by doubts about the eligibility of Democrats’ left-leaning frontrunner Yi Mun.
“I have decided to find the future of Korea that I love and what I can do for all of us,” Han said at a press conference in Parliament on Friday.
“I will do my best to be chosen by people in this presidential election.”
On Thursday, the Supreme Court overturned Lee Jemune’s acquittal for violating election laws and sent the case back to the lower court.
If his beliefs were supported before the election, Lee, who has dominated the vote for months, will be disqualified from race.
Next month’s election was called after Yoon, a conservative politician who became a former prosecutor, took office over the Declaration of Martial Law in December.
Yoon’s declaration lasted less than six hours before he was voted for South Korea’s parliament, but the political uncertainty and chaos that unleashed continued to echo nearly six months later.
Han, 75, took over as representative president on December 14th following Yoon’s each bullet, and he himself was fired each bullet and replaced by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok.
In March, the Constitutional Court overturned Han’s blast each and returned him to the role of acting leader.
A veteran politician and bureaucrat, Han served as prime minister in both liberal and conservative administrations, serving as Minister of Trade, Finance and U.S. ambassador.
Although he is not affiliated with political parties, Han is expected to be allying with Yoon’s conservative people’s power party.
He said his campaign platform will focus on limiting the power of enforcement and amending the constitution to add checks and balances.
Following Han’s announcement, Democrats accused him of abandoning his duties as a caretaker’s leader.
“We warn former Prime Minister Han. Don’t hide your desires with the lie that you are running for people,” said Democrat spokesman Noh John Mine.
