South Korea’s acting president, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, announced his resignation on Thursday, signaling his intention to run for the presidency in the upcoming June 3 election.
Mr. Han had been contemplating a presidential run following the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who appointed him as the second-in-command in his administration.
His resignation coincided with a Supreme Court ruling that could complicate the presidential aspirations of Lee Jae-myung, the leading candidate from the majority Democratic Party, who is currently favored to win the election.
The ruling adds uncertainty to an election that South Koreans hope will resolve months of political instability stemming from Mr. Yoon's martial law declaration late last year, which led to his removal from office. Mr. Han briefly took over after Mr. Yoon but faced impeachment himself before being reinstated as acting president by the Constitutional Court.
In a statement, Mr. Han expressed his decision to resign as a step to address the national crisis, although he did not explicitly announce his candidacy. However, his statement has been interpreted as a de facto declaration of his presidential ambitions, with expectations of an official announcement at a news conference later this week.
Following Mr. Han’s resignation, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will assume the role of acting president.
Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court overturned a lower court's acquittal of Mr. Lee regarding election law violations, sending the case back for retrial. The Supreme Court indicated it found Mr. Lee guilty, but the final outcome will depend on the lower court's ruling and any subsequent review by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Lee's eligibility to run for president hinges on the timing of the lower court's decision and the severity of any penalties imposed. Should he receive a penalty exceeding a 1 million won ($700) fine, he would be barred from running for five years.
The timeline for the lower court's deliberation remains unclear. The Supreme Court's ruling raises questions about Mr. Lee’s qualifications and casts doubt on his presidential ambitions.
Mr. Lee was recently elected as his party's presidential candidate with overwhelming support, securing nearly 90 percent of the votes in the primary. He has consistently led public opinion polls in recent weeks.
Members of the People Power Party, the second-largest political party in South Korea, have been encouraging Mr. Han to pursue the presidency. The party will select its candidate on Saturday, necessitating negotiations between Mr. Han and the chosen candidate regarding representation in the election. Currently, Mr. Han is not affiliated with any political party.
The People Power Party, which supported Mr. Yoon, has argued that the Supreme Court ruling should disqualify Mr. Lee from the presidential race. Party leader Kwon Young-se stated, "It’s common sense for him to step down as presidential candidate."
In response, Mr. Lee affirmed his commitment to continue his campaign, asserting that the decision about the country's future should rest with the people, not the judiciary. He has faced multiple criminal charges, which he claims are politically motivated actions by Mr. Yoon's government.
In November, a district court convicted Mr. Lee of election law violations, resulting in a suspended prison sentence for making false statements during his previous presidential campaign. He narrowly lost that election to Mr. Yoon. However, an appeals court acquitted him in March, a ruling that the Supreme Court has now overturned.
Mr. Lee's election-law trial is being closely monitored due to its significant political ramifications. His potential removal from the presidential race could exacerbate existing tensions between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party.
During a rally near the Supreme Court on Thursday, Mr. Lee’s supporters accused the court of political interference, while detractors called for his imprisonment.