South Korea acting leader Han Duck-soo resigns ahead of expected presidential runTopic:World Politics15m ago15 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 8:09amHe resigned ahead of a snap election next month. (Yonhap/via REUTERS)abc.net.au/news/south-korea-acting-leader-han-duck-soo-resigns/105241002Link copiedShareShare articleSouth Korea's acting leader Han Duck-soo has resigned from his duties as both prime minister and president.Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is standing in as acting president, as required by law."I hereby step down from my duties as acting president and prime minister (of South Korea)," he said in a national press conference."During these grave times, I have long pondered and deliberated whether this decision is truly right and unavoidable, considering the weight of the responsibilities I bear."In the end, I have decided to take this path if there's no other one.Han Duck-soo bowed after his resignation speech. (Yonhap/via REUTERS)"I have made the final decision to step down from my positions to do what I can and what I must to overcome the crisis we are facing."His resignation comes before an expected run for president in the country's snap election on June 3.Han has emerged as a potential conservative standard bearer, and South Korean media reported he will officially launch his presidential campaign on Friday.Why Han Duck-soo was impeached just two weeks into his jobPhoto shows Acting President Han Duck-soo, center, speaks during a cabinet meeting in Seoul.The successive impeachments are unprecedented, and mean the top two officials in Asia's fourth-largest economy are currently suspended from their duties. Here's why some observers are increasingly concerned.The main conservative People Power Party remains in disarray over Yoon’s December 3 imposition of martial law.Han himself went through an impeachment trial last year over his involvement with the martial law incident.Earlier today, South Korea's Supreme Court overturned a previous ruling that had cleared election frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of election law violation, throwing into doubt his eligibility to run for the presidency.Lee, the candidate of the liberal Democratic Party which controls parliament, leads opinion polls to win a snap presidential election.The Supreme Court said that Lee violated election law by publicly stating false facts and ruled to send the case back to the appeals court.LoadingPosted 15m ago15 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 8:09am, updated 1m ago1 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 8:23amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesCoalition costings reveal worse budget for first two years under Dutton compared to LaborTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Peter Dutton and Angus Taylor press conferenceCoalition's public service cuts 'focused on Canberra', shadow finance minister says LIVEPhoto shows Jane Hume stands at lecternCoalition's curriculum confusion, Albanese 'nervous' as polling day nearsBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonPhoto shows a bald male politician wearing glasses speaks in front of a man standing behind himSimon Patterson tells court of 'strained' relationship with alleged mushroom killerTopic:Law, Crime and JusticePhoto shows A close up photo of Erin Patterson looking over her shoulder wearing glases.Harris says Trump administration is using fear as a tool to ruleTopic:World PoliticsPhoto shows Kamala Harris delivers a speech standing in front of a white backdrop that says emergePopular nowHarris says Trump administration is using fear as a tool to ruleTopic:World PoliticsPhoto shows Kamala Harris delivers a speech standing in front of a white backdrop that says emergeIndia is on the warpath against Pakistan. 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