A ‘wild card’ emerges in South Korea’s presidential race: the prime minister
A new poll shows acting president Han Duck-soo, a 75-year-old technocrat, leading among conservative voters after Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment
“Han has emerged as a wild card for the PPP as it struggles to find a viable candidate capable of defeating Lee,” said Choi Jin, head of the Institute for Presidential Leadership think tank.
According to Choi, many conservatives view Han as a reliable leader capable of guiding the country through a transitional phase and providing stability. “With his background as a trade negotiator and former ambassador to the US, he is also seen as someone who can effectively deal with Washington on tariff and trade issues,” Choi told This Week in Asia.
A Harvard-educated economist with both a master’s and doctorate in economics, Han has built a bipartisan reputation for his expertise in diplomacy, trade, and administration.