South Korean ex-Prime Minister Han says he will run for president

Veteran public servant promises to weaken the office and not serve a full term

20250502 South Korea Former Prime Minister

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo arrives to announce a presidential bid at the National Assembly in Seoul on May 2. In South Korea, executive power is heavily concentrated in the president. © AP

May 2, 2025 15:33 JST

SEOUL (AP) -- South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Friday he will run in next month's presidential election and would seek to lessen the powers of the office and ease strife-ridden domestic politics if he wins.

Han's entry heats up the scramble among conservatives to unify behind a candidate to compete with liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung, whose campaign recently was set back by a court decision to open a new trial on election law violation charges.