Han Duck-soo is the new acting president of South Korea after the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon is now suspended because he tried to impose martial law, and the law says that the prime minister, Han, must take over during this time. Han is experienced and respected, having worked in many important government jobs for over 30 years, and he has a strong background in economics from Harvard.
He has worked with both conservative and liberal presidents, making him a unique choice who is above party politics. Han faces several difficult tasks: keeping the government running during this big political crisis, handling threats from North Korea, and dealing with slowing economic growth. There are also concerns about criminal investigations into his involvement in Yoon’s martial law decision.
Han has previously served as prime minister and held several roles, including ambassador to the U.S. and finance minister. He helped negotiate the important U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement and speaks fluent English. Yoon chose Han for his skills, saying that Han is the right person to lead and coordinate the Cabinet.
Han’s time as acting president may last for several months while the Constitutional Court decides the future of Yoon’s presidency. If Yoon is removed, a new presidential election must happen within 60 days, during which Han will stay on. However, Han faces a complaint from the opposition, which could affect his position.
In South Korea, the Constitution doesn’t clearly say how much power the prime minister has while acting as president. Many experts believe the prime minister can only do what is necessary to keep the government running, while others argue he can exercise full presidential powers.
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