The People Power Party confirmed on Tuesday that Han Duck-soo skips party primary for the upcoming presidential race. Acting President and current Prime Minister Han will not register as a candidate for the party’s nomination.
Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the party’s floor leader, made the announcement during a meeting with fellow lawmakers. He clarified that Han would not take part in the People Power Party’s primary process.
Some party members had urged Han to join the race, fueling speculation about his political plans. However, Kweon stated that these discussions only distracted from both the primary and Han’s official duties.
He also addressed the press after the meeting to explain his remarks further. Kweon emphasized the need to focus public attention on the primary process. According to him, the ongoing debate over Han’s potential run served only as a distraction.
Since Han Duck-soo skips party primary, he now has two limited options. He can either run as an independent or join a smaller political party. However, Han has not confirmed any political move.
As of Tuesday, he has neither accepted nor denied the idea of running for president. This silence adds more uncertainty to South Korea’s already tense political atmosphere.
After Park Geun-hye’s impeachment in 2017, acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn withdrew from the race within a week. That historical precedent raises further interest in Han’s next decision.
Han will remain acting president until the next leader takes office following the June 3 election. Both the ruling and opposition parties closed their registration processes on Tuesday.
They plan to finalize their presidential nominees by early May. With Han Duck-soo skipping party primary, all eyes now turn to his next political move.
The People Power Party hopes to unite behind a strong candidate soon. Meanwhile, public curiosity grows over whether Han will return to the campaign trail from another platform.
