Political sphere heavily divided over possibility of acting president entering race
South Korea's political landscape has been stirred by the possibility of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo entering the upcoming presidential election set for June.
Speculation intensified after local media reported that Han, who is also acting president, told US President Donald Trump that he was considering a presidential bid during a 28-minute phone call on Tuesday.
According to local media, Han reportedly said he was “considering (the matter) due to several demands and the (current) situation,” adding that nothing had been decided yet.
Following the reports, an official from the prime minister’s office declined to confirm details of the conversation, saying that “it is difficult to reveal the specifics of diplomatic talks between two heads of state.”
While the 75-year-old has not formally declared his candidacy, his potential entry has sparked debate among political parties.
People Power Party floor leader Kweon Seong-dong welcomed the scenario Friday, highlighting that Han’s participation as a conservative candidate could boost public interest in the party’s upcoming convention, where they will choose their conservative presidential nominee.
“I think it’s good,” Kweon told reporters at the National Assembly.
“If many competent candidates enter our intra-party race it will have great (publicity) effects for our convention and receive great public attention, which is not bad,” he added.
However, when asked about news reports that over 50 People Power Party lawmakers have voiced support for Han, Kweon clarified that they had “not attempted to verify” the number of supporters.
The People Power Party plans to hold a party convention on May 3 to pick its candidate for the presidential election. The deadline for public officers to resign is May 4, as the law requires public servants to step down at least 30 days before an election.
Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, who stepped down Tuesday to enter the race, expressed disagreement with the idea of Han running for president.
“With the country's leadership already destabilized, I don’t think Han should run for president,” Kim said in a radio interview Friday. “He currently holds a critical role as acting president. If he resigns to join the race, it could cause serious problems.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Park Jie-won of the Democratic Party, a former director of the National Intelligence Service, speculated that Han may enter the race as an independent candidate, rather than participating in the conservative party's convention.
“Han and his wife both have political ambitions – he is expected to enter the race as an independent candidate then later announce a joint candidacy with another People Power Party candidate,” Park said during a local radio show Friday.
In contrast, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea denounced the idea.
During a party leadership meeting held on Friday, Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae criticized Han for “abandoning his constitutional duty in pursuit of personal political ambition.”
Democratic Party Rep. Kim Min-seok, who sits on the main opposition’s Supreme Council said that he pities the People Power Party for "even considering an acting president who’s accused of participating in an insurrection."
For the first time, Han’s name recently appeared in Gallup Korea’s regular poll asking voters to name their preferred future national leader. In the survey, conducted from Tuesday to Thursday among 1,005 adults, 2 percent selected Han. Other leading conservative figures, such as former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, received 9 percent and 5 percent, respectively. Liberal opposition leader Lee Jae-myung led the poll with 37 percent.
South Korea is set to hold a snap presidential election in June, triggered by the Constitutional Court’s decision last week to oust of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law imposition on Dec. 3 last year.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
