Seoul: Acting President Han Duck-soo urged efforts to achieve a “more mature democracy” in South Korea during a national breakfast prayer meeting on Saturday, amid increasing speculation about his potential candidacy in the upcoming presidential election.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Han’s message was delivered by Lee Hee-wan, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, at the event commemorating the 1960 pro-democracy movement. Han emphasized the need to transmit the values of liberal democracy to future generations, inspired by the April 19 civil revolt.
Han expressed hope for South Korea to become a global leader in politics, economy, and society, uniting the hearts of all its people. His remarks come at a time when he is seen as a potential game changer for the conservative camp in the June election, following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over a failed martial law decree. However, Han has not commented on the possibility of running for the presidency.
He highlighted the significance of the April 19 revolution, describing it as a source of pride and a milestone in democratic history for both South Korea and the world. The event’s archives were inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2023.
The April 19 revolution was ignited by public outrage over vote rigging during the presidential election under the Rhee Syng-man government. The movement culminated in nationwide student protests on April 19, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries in clashes with armed police, ultimately leading to Rhee’s resignation after 12 years in power.