Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announces his candidacy for the presidential election at the National Assembly's communication hall in Yeouido, Seoul, on Nov. 2. /Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo declared his candidacy for the presidential election on the 2nd.

The former prime minister, who resigned from his position the previous day, held a press conference at the National Assembly that morning, saying, "I have decided to find what I can do for the future of the Republic of Korea, which I love, and for all of us," and added, "I will do my utmost to receive the people's choice in this presidential election."

He proposed constitutional amendments such as shortening the presidential term to three years, solving trade issues, and promoting national unity and cooperative governance as his campaign pledges.

The full text of the declaration of candidacy follows.

Esteemed citizens,

Today, I

stand here to announce my candidacy for the

21st presidential election of the Republic of Korea.

I want to speak to the citizens.

Right now, the world is

rapidly changing in terms of trade order

and the international order is in turmoil.

No country can

easily predict the future.

This is a time of great credit entry.

In addition, our country is

in the midst of significant domestic chaos.

Conflicts and divisions are shaking the foundation of our community.

Instead of focusing on the future of the nation and its citizens,

the political struggles chasing individual and factional interests

have reached a dangerous level.

If politics does not change, neither will people's livelihoods, the economy, diplomacy, or reforms.

Our country, which we have worked hard to build,

must not be left to collapse from irresponsible political disputes.

I have lived my life as a loyal servant of proud citizens of the Republic of Korea.

I have spent my life on the front lines of economic development.

From trade diplomacy, which is at the forefront of national interests,

the reality of making it a political issue,

I cannot comprehend with my conscience and common sense.

For the future of the Republic of Korea, which I love,

for all of us,

I have decided to find what I can do.

I will do my utmost to receive the people's choice through this presidential election.

Citizens,

I promise three things.

First, 'immediate constitutional amendment.'

On the first day of my term, I will create a 'constitutional amendment support agency directly under the president' and devote every effort to the success of the constitutional amendment.

In the first year, I will prepare an amendment proposal,

complete the amendment in the second year,

and in the third year, after conducting general elections and a presidential election under the new constitution,

I will resign immediately.

The specific contents of the constitutional amendment will be decided after intensive discussions among the National Assembly and citizens,

but I will only present the core direction of checks and balances,

in other words, decentralization.

Our constitution has been in place since its revision in 1987 for 38 years.

It is severely lacking in fulfilling the demands of a rapidly changing era and the will of the citizens.

If we fail to successfully amend the constitution this time,

it will be hard to find a chance like this again.

No matter who comes to power,

the same misfortune as now will be repeated.

Although many governments and politicians have promised constitutional amendments over the years,

when it comes their turn,

they have subtly changed their stance based on the current situation and interests.

A politician who has lived for power

cannot start or complete a constitutional amendment.

I, who have followed the path of public service,

will put our constitutional order on a new foundation through swift constitutional amendment.

The president and the National Assembly

must share power in a system of checks and balances,

and eliminate the politicization of politics and the judicial system.

To ensure that the cooperative governance system becomes institutionalized and that administration is made efficient,

our politics and government must truly contribute to national interests and the welfare of the people,

This is what I think is the correct constitutional amendment and

the core goal and direction we should pursue.

During my tenure as Prime Minister, I met almost every day

with journalists, politicians, businesspeople, and experts,

as well as numerous dignitaries from various sectors.

I listened to a variety of opinions.

I also visited our citizens who work hard every day across the country.

This is not enough.

From now on, I will meet more often.

About the growth our economy needs,

the happiness our citizens should enjoy,

the stability our society needs,

the new constitution we must create,

and the new era we must move toward,

I will continually meet, ask, and listen.

With the eyes of the citizens and the will of the citizens,

I will ensure the success of the constitutional amendment.

Under the new constitution,

I will become a stepping stone for the next era of the Republic of Korea.

I hope our citizens will step on my back

and move from an extreme era to a rational era,

from a partisan era to a cooperative governance era,

and into a new Republic of Korea that matches our national dignity and era.

I will speak with sincerity.

Second, I promise to resolve trade issues.

The tariff storm originating from the United States is

the most urgent trade issue for all countries in the world.

The global trade order is being disrupted.

On the 8th, I spoke with President Trump of the United States

and decided to actively seek solutions for trade issues on the solid foundation of the Korea-U.S. alliance.

At the Korea-U.S. 2+2 high-level talks held in Washington last week,

there were quite significant results.

I expect the speed of resolution to increase significantly.

I was the first head of the Trade Negotiation Bureau of our country.

Having served as Deputy Prime Minister, Prime Minister, and Ambassador to the United States,

I have successfully led numerous trade negotiations.

I am the person who has been doing this for the longest time

and I am confident that I can do it best.

I am actively communicating with the U.S. government and experts from all sectors.

I will definitely resolve this trade issue.

Third, I promise to promote national unity and cooperative governance, that is, 'citizen cooperation.'

Unity means mutual growth.

It is regrettable that the South and North are divided,

and now we are divided between left and right, east and west,

and even between men and women, between the middle-aged and the youth.

Must we continue to be divided?

Conservatism did not achieve industrialization alone

and progressivism did not achieve democratization alone.

What we have achieved is not the contribution of any one force.

It is the achievement of all our citizens who have worked hard every day,

therefore, the fruits of that achievement must

return to everyone.

Good jobs, comfortable dwellings, convenient transportation,

quality healthcare, attentive childcare support, and robust old-age security.

We will find the people who can do these things best,

form the best cabinet, an operational cabinet,

and I will strongly encourage them to take responsibility and achieve substantial results.

I will do my utmost to ensure national unity and cooperative governance in all areas of society.

Esteemed citizens,

Many have encouraged me to run for president,

urging me earnestly to normalize politics,

to please stop fighting,

to stop dividing and unite,

to revive the economy,

and to take care of people's livelihoods.

In short,

they asked me to ensure that citizens can live without worrying about politics.

I will remember that.

I will persistently and diligently promote constitutional amendments.

I will take care of people's livelihoods with the same persistence.

Leave trade negotiations to me.

Whatever I do, I will do it right.

The new government will not be the 'Han Duck-soo government.'

Instead of being divided left and right,

I want to move forward, only forward,

a government for everyone,

that is, 'your government.'

I will be

a president of the economy who can win,

not a leftist or a rightist, but someone who will move forward,

and I will be someone who, after keeping my promises, will step down immediately.

From tomorrow,

until our citizens grow old and gray,

I will share the specific alternatives for how national policies should change at each stage of life.

Including the leader of the Democratic Party,

if there are good policies proposed by the political arena and our citizens,

I will accept them without any fixed ideas

and execute them efficiently.

Citizens,

I do not think I can do everything.

And I believe I shouldn't.

During my time working with various presidents,

I have learned many things.

The presidency is a lonely position

and a position of great responsibility.

It is a place where a tremendous amount of work can be done, yet

the things that one can do alone

are surprisingly few.

I will run the government with philosophy and conviction,

entrusting each ministry to its respective head

and I will focus on what a president must do.

No matter how talented a person is,

one person's understanding of everything is

neither possible nor should it be.

The wisdom of many is always deeper and broader than

the wisdom of one person.

I ask those who can speak candidly without reservation,

and those competing in the presidential election

to come together and join the national integration cabinet.

For personnel below the Deputy Minister level,

I will ensure that the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers who will work with him are selected responsibly.

Citizens, you may think,

"How can a person who couldn't do things as Prime Minister suddenly accomplish them as President?"

You may wonder.

I assure you, the things I couldn't do as the Prime Minister

I will certainly achieve with the power of the presidency.

"How can I believe those words?"

Please observe not just my words,

but also my life.

In everyone's life,

there is the most important question for each person.

In my case, that question was

"What can I do for my country?"

I was born when the per capita income was not even $100,

and I have lived as a worker for my people through the $1,000, $10,000,

and $20,000, $30,000 eras.

I have always been dedicated to contributing to the growth of my nation.

That has been the most rewarding aspect of my life.

Seeing my country become stronger and richer,

and being respected and loved in the world,

is my life and my dream.

Dear citizens,

my ideology is simple

and it is that miracles must not end here,

and that we must continue to move forward.

There is nothing more.

I hope our youth will use me as a stepping stone,

and surpass me

moving towards a brighter future.

For the benefit of the nation and its people,

I will work and work again.

Thank you.

대통령의 힘으로, 반드시 해내겠습니다.

“그 말을 어떻게 믿느냐”고 물으시는 분들께 저는,

제 말이 아니라

제가 살아온 인생을 보아달라고 말씀드리고 싶습니다.

누구의 인생에나

그 사람에게 가장 중요한 질문이 있습니다.

저의 경우에 그 질문은

저라는 평범한 사람이

나라를 위해 무엇을 할 수 있는가’ 였습니다.

저는 일인당 국민소득이 일백달러가 채 안될 때 태어나

일천달러, 일만달러 시대,

이만달러, 삼만달러 시대를

우리 국민의 일꾼으로 살았습니다.

노력형이었지 천재였던 적이 없고,

밤늦도록 제가 맡은 일에 몰두하면서

나라의 성장에 힘을 보태는 것이

그 어떤 일보다 보람 있었습니다.

우리나라가 강해지고 풍요로워지는 것,

세계 속에 존경받고 사랑받게 되는 것,

그 과정을 지켜보고 기여하는 것이

지금도 앞으로도

저의 인생이고 꿈입니다.

국민 여러분,

저의 이념은 단 하나,

여기서 기적이 끝나선 안 된다는 것,

우리는 계속, 앞으로 나아가야 한다는 것,

이것밖에 없습니다.

우리 청년들이 저를 디딤돌로 삼으시기를,

마음껏 저를 넘어

세계로 미래로

더 밝은 시대로 나아가시기를 소망합니다.

오직 국리민복을 위해,

일하고 또 일하겠습니다.

감사합니다.