April 28, 2025
SEOUL – Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s potential candidacy in the upcoming presidential election has emerged as a key variable for the conservative bloc, with an announcement speculated to come as early as this week.
The time is approaching for Han to make a decision. Under election law, he must resign from his current position by May 4 — 30 days before the early election on June 3 — to run for president.
Presidential hopefuls from the People Power Party have expressed their willingness to unify their bids and work together to select the most competitive candidate against Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the front-runner for the Democratic Party of Korea’s nomination.
In political circles, it is believed that Han could step down as early as Wednesday, given that the Democratic Party was set to finalize its presidential candidate on Sunday and a Cabinet meeting is to be convened Tuesday. The People Power Party plans to finalize its presidential candidate on May 3.
The Korea Herald learned from a source familiar with the matter that Han told former US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell that he was “seriously considering” a presidential bid during their one-on-one meeting on April 23 in Seoul.
The most critical question is whether Han will vie for the People Power Party’s nomination. If he does, he is likely to face a one-shot primary against the party’s final candidate, though this would require approval from the four current candidates, who were whittled down from eight contenders on April 22.
A second primary is being held on Sunday and Monday, with 50 percent party membership votes and 50 percent public polling determining the nominated candidate. The outcome is to be announced Tuesday. If no candidate secures a majority, the top two will compete again under the same 50:50 methodology on Thursday and Friday, with the final nominee to be selected Saturday.
The People Power Party’s four contenders appear open to competing with acting President Han if he enters the race.
On Sunday, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, one of the People Power Party’s final four, said he would face Han in a runoff if it would bolster the party’s chances against Lee Jae-myung.
“If Han Duck-soo runs, I will debate him twice and hold another public primary. If that’s the way to defeat Lee Jae-myung, I will gladly do so,” Hong said in a statement.
Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo also emphasized the importance of uniting the anti-Lee forces, suggesting he would work toward a swift candidate consolidation if Han enters the race.
Other People Power Party contenders, including former party leader Han Dong-hoon and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, similarly signaled support for Han’s potential bid.
Ahn said Sunday that should Han Duck-soo run in the presidential election, “a primary has to be held with our party’s ultimate candidate in order to finally choose a single (unified) nominee.”
Ahn added, “I hope the strongest candidate to compete with Lee Jae-myung (of the Democratic Party) will be selected by the most objective and accurate process.”
In a televised debate Saturday, Han Dong-hoon said, “I believe many voters are suggesting a variety of ideas to win the election,” when asked whether he felt uncomfortable about Han Duck-soo joining the race.
Although Han has not yet officially declared his candidacy, signs point to a decision to come soon, with him stepping up public activities, drawing increased attention as a potential candidate. On Wednesday, he visited the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, reaffirming the crucial alliance and commending US forces who helped combat recent wildfires in North Gyeongsang Province — a move widely seen as boosting his national security credentials.
Observers are divided over the ramifications that Han Duck-soo’s candidacy could have for the conservative bloc in the presidential race, as his competitiveness in the presidential election has been interpreted differently depending on polling methodology.
In an April 23-24 YTN survey of the most favored candidates in the conservative bloc, acting President Han ranked fourth at 9 percent, behind three Poeple Power Party candidates: Han Dong-hoon with 14 percent, Hong with 11 percent and Kim with 10 percent.
However, in a head-to-head poll against Lee conducted by TV Chosun over the same period, Han trailed Lee by 15 percentage points — a narrower gap than those of the four People Power Party options.
The Democratic Party has been publicly critical of Han’s potential run, while its individual presidential contenders have remained focused on their own campaigns.
In a statement Sunday, Democratic Party spokesperson Park Kyung-mee warned that Han’s presidential bid would amount to “national ruin.”
“Acting President Han should deeply apologize for the grave betrayal that has undermined the nation’s standing in less than three years,” Park said. “He should quietly fulfill his duties until the end of his acting presidency and await trial, rather than defying the natural order. If he chooses to run, he will immediately face the harsh judgment of the public.”