Acting President Han Duck-soo calls for efforts to upgrade democracy as speculation on presidential bid grows

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a meeting at the Government Complex in central Seoul on April 22. [NEWS1] Acting President Han Duck-soo called for efforts to achieve a "more mature democracy" in Korea on Saturday amid growing speculation he may announce a bid to run in the upcoming presidential election. "We will work to realize a more mature democracy to faithfully transmit to our future generations the values of liberal democracy, upheld by the April 19 civil revolt," Han said in a congratulatory message at the national breakfast prayer meeting celebrating the 1960 pro-democracy movement. Related ArticleActing President Han Duck-soo to run in June 3 presidential election, source saysActing President Han Duck-soo could declare election candidacy as early as next week Han Duck-soo’s candidacy: A technocrat’s test in a fractured conservative field Han's message was read by Lee Hee-wan, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. "I hope South Korea becomes a country that leads the world in all areas of politics, economy and society by uniting the hearts of all people," he said. Han's message came amid speculation the acting president could be a potential game changer for the conservative camp in the June election to be held to pick a new leader after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's ouster over his failed martial law decree. Han has declined to comment on his possible candidacy for the election. "The April 19 revolution is a shining source of pride for us that marked a milestone in the history of democracy, not only for South Korea but for the world," he said, mentioning the historic event's inscription on Unesco's Memory of the World Register. Unesco approved the inscription of the April 19 revolution archives in its register in 2023. The April 19 revolution was touched off by public anger over vote rigging in the presidential election by the Rhee Syng-man government in power at the time. A series of nationwide student protests culminated on April 19, with hundreds of demonstrators killed or wounded in clashes with armed police. The uprising ultimately forced Rhee to step down after 12 years in office. Yonhap

Acting President Han Duck-soo calls for efforts to upgrade democracy as speculation on presidential bid grows Published: 26 Apr. 2025, 12:58 Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a meeting at the Government Complex in central Seoul on April 22. [NEWS1] Acting President Han Duck-soo called for efforts to achieve a "more mature democracy" in Korea on Saturday amid growing speculation he may announce a bid to run in the upcoming presidential election.

"We will work to realize a more mature democracy to faithfully transmit to our future generations the values of liberal democracy, upheld by the April 19 civil revolt," Han said in a congratulatory message at the national breakfast prayer meeting celebrating the 1960 pro-democracy movement. Related Article Acting President Han Duck-soo to run in June 3 presidential election, source says Acting President Han Duck-soo could declare election candidacy as early as next week Han Duck-soo’s candidacy: A technocrat’s test in a fractured conservative field Han's message was read by Lee Hee-wan, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. "I hope South Korea becomes a country that leads the world in all areas of politics, economy and society by uniting the hearts of all people," he said.

Han's message came amid speculation the acting president could be a potential game changer for the conservative camp in the June election to be held to pick a new leader after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's ouster over his failed martial law decree. Han has declined to comment on his possible candidacy for the election. "The April 19 revolution is a shining source of pride for us that marked a milestone in the history of democracy, not only for South Korea but for the world," he said, mentioning the historic event's inscription on Unesco's Memory of the World Register.

Unesco approved the inscription of the April 19 revolution archives in its register in 2023. The April 19 revolution was touched off by public anger over vote rigging in the presidential election by the Rhee Syng-man government in power at the time. A series of nationwide student protests culminated on April 19, with hundreds of demonstrators killed or wounded in clashes with armed police.

The uprising ultimately forced Rhee to step down after 12 years in office. Yonhap var admarutag = admarutag || {} admarutag.cmd = admarutag.

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