Seoul: Acting President Han Duck-soo has urged for concerted efforts towards achieving a “more mature democracy” in South Korea, amid mounting speculation about his potential candidacy in the forthcoming presidential election. Han emphasized the importance of transmitting the values of liberal democracy to future generations during a national breakfast prayer meeting commemorating the 1960 pro-democracy movement.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Han’s statement, delivered by Lee Hee-wan, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, highlighted the need for South Korea to lead globally in politics, economy, and society by uniting its people. This message arrives at a time when Han is viewed as a potential transformative figure for the conservative camp in the upcoming June election, following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over a failed martial law decree. Han has remained silent on whether he will run for the presidency.
Han also invoked the historical significance of the April 19 revolution, describing it as a milestone in global democratic history. The revolution, which was driven by public outrage over electoral fraud by the Rhee Syng-man government, led to nationwide protests. These demonstrations, marked by violent clashes with police resulting in numerous casualties, ultimately forced Rhee’s resignation after 12 years in power. In 2023, UNESCO recognized the importance of this event by inscribing its archives into the Memory of the World Register.
The liberal Democratic Party (DP) has criticized Han amid rumors of his presidential aspirations, accusing him of using state affairs for personal gain. DP spokesperson Rep. Hwang Jung-ah voiced that the public would hold Han accountable for his ambitions. Meanwhile, Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a presidential contender within the People Power Party, urged Han to reconsider his potential bid, stressing the need for a candidate capable of defeating Lee Jae-myung, the prominent DP candidate.