Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said on the 1st, “I have made the final decision to resign from my position to do what I need to do.”
In the absence of a president, who will accept the resignation of Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo? In response, a Prime Minister's Office official noted, “The acting prime minister will approve it directly.”
Even if the resignation is accepted, Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will maintain the position until the 1st. The transfer of acting presidential authority will take place from 12 a.m. on the 2nd. Again, Minister Choi Sang-mok will take on the role of acting prime minister as the highest administrative protocol.
During the period when Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was impeached, Minister Choi handled the responsibilities of the head of state. Throughout the acting period, he responded to crises, including the Muan Airport accident and the Gyeongbuk wildfire suppression, as well as resolved political conflicts, such as the appointment of constitutional court judges.
On March 24th, following the Constitutional Court's decision, Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo returned to his duties, shedding the title of acting prime minister and returning to his original position.
After returning as the economic leader, he focused on managing the rapidly changing foreign exchange market and economic uncertainties caused by changes in U.S. trade policy. He led the government's initiatives for disaster recovery from wildfires, trade responses, and a supplementary budget to tackle the economic crisis. He has been evaluated for effectively playing the role of economic leader while engaging in the U.S.-South Korea 2+2 trade talks held in Washington.
However, with the resignation of Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Minister Choi has returned to oversee the overall state affairs. After the transfer of his acting authority at midnight on the 2nd, Han is expected to begin checking national security readiness. On the morning of the 2nd, he is expected to convene the National Security Council (NSC) and hold meetings with cabinet members.
In the meantime, every time speculation arose about Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo running for president again, Minister Choi expressed his concerns. At a press briefing with accompanying reporters during the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting held in Washington, D.C. on the 25th of last month, he responded regarding Han's candidacy, saying, “I hope political uncertainty will decrease in terms of external credibility.” This statement has been interpreted as a veiled expression of his hope that Han would not run for office.
However, with Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stepping down, he ultimately took on the role of acting president. Minister Choi's side stated that they would do their utmost for national governance, including election preparations, in the month leading up to the June 3rd election. An official from Choi's team noted, “We will manage state affairs as stably as possible in a highly uncertain situation.”