S Korea acting head quits, eyes prez poll

Agencies Seoul

South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo said Thursday he is resigning to take on "heavier responsibility" amid expectation he will run in next month's presidential election. Han has emerged as a potential conservative standard bearer, and South Korean media reported he will officially launch his presidential campaign Friday.

"I have two paths ahead of me. One is completing the heavy responsibility that I handle now. The other is putting down that responsibility and taking a heavier responsibility," Han said. "I've finally determined to put down my post to do what I can and what I have to help overcome the crises facing us."

Han was appointed prime minister, the country's No. 2 post, by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose removal from office triggered the by-election to be held June 3. The main conservative People Power Party remains in disarray over Yoon's Dec. 3 imposition of martial law. 

Observers say Han is expected to align with the People Power Party to launch a unified conservative campaign against liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung. Han, 75, is a career bureaucrat with about 40 years of public service and a Harvard doctorate in economics.