South Korea’s acting leader Han resigns amid reports he will run for president
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo said Thursday he is resigning to take on “heavier responsibility” amid expectation he will run in next month’s presidential election.
Han has emerged as a potential conservative standard bearer, and South Korean media reported he will officially launch his presidential campaign Friday.
“I have two paths ahead of me. One is completing the heavy responsibility that I handle now. The other is putting down that responsibility and taking a heavier responsibility,” Han said. “I’ve finally determined to put down my post to do what I can and what I have to help overcome the crises facing us.”
Han was appointed prime minister, the country’s No. 2 post, by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose removal from office triggered the by-election to be held June 3.
The main conservative People Power Party remains in disarray over Yoon’s Dec. 3 imposition of martial law. Observers say Han is expected to align with the People Power Party to launch a unified conservative campaign against liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung.
Han, 75, is a career bureaucrat with about 40 years of public service and a Harvard doctorate in economics. He has held top posts under both conservative and liberal governments, including trade minister, finance minister and ambassador to the U.S. He’s served as prime minster twice, first under liberal President Roh Moo-hyun from 2007-2008 and later under Yoon.
Han’s supporters say his extensive government experience, especially on economic affairs, would make him a right leader who can deal with President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies and other economic problems. But his critics say Han — who has never had an elected post — has no strong political support base, is too old to become president and lacks a tough leadership to tackle contentious issues.
Lee, won the nomination of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party on Sunday and has been favored to win.
With Han’s resignation, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok becomes acting president until a new leader is elected on June 3.
Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro says ‘I’d rather die’ than use generative AI
Del Toro's new Frankenstein adaption reimagines Mary Shelley's 1818 Gothic novel. Frankenstein was like a tech bro: "creating something without considering the consequences," he explains.
Democrats invited Republicans to a town hall. Here’s what happened
Imagine getting an invitation to a town hall from someone across the political aisle. That was the idea behind a recent event sponsored by the Calhoun County Democratic Committee. They asked their members to invite Republican friends in an effort to bridge the divide.
Anglican Church Archbishop accused of sexual misconduct
Archbishop Steve Wood, who heads the Anglican Church of North America, faces of sexual harassment allegations. This marks the latest in a string of crises to rock the small, conservative denomination.
NBA coach Chauncey Billups, player Terry Rozier arrested in FBI gambling probe
Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat, was investigated by the NBA in 2023 in connection with suspicious gambling activity on a game that he exited early.
Its the deadliest year for ICE in decades. As detentions rise, the trend may continue
There have been at least 20 deaths in ICE custody in 2025, the deadliest year since 2004. As the agency is ramping up hiring and increasing detentions, concerns remain about how to stop the trend.
In an era of techno-dystopia, Sudan Archives’ ‘The BPM’ imagines a liberated future
On her stunning new album The BPM, the multi-instrumentalist Sudan Archives explores the freedom of augmented reality and technology through the sounds of club music.
