34 Facts About Han Duck-soo

Han Duck-soo is a South Korean diplomat, economist, and politician who has served as the acting president of South Korea in December 2024 and since March 2025 and as the prime minister of South Korea since 2022.

Han Duck-soo held office as the minister of economy and finance from 2005 to 2006, the ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2012, and the chairman of the Korea International Trade Association from 2012 to 2015.

Thirteen days later, Han Duck-soo himself was impeached by the National Assembly of South Korea due to his refusal to promulgate two special counsel bills that sought to investigate the impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee, along with failing to appoint three National Assembly-designated candidates for the Constitutional Court of Korea, ending his role as acting president and suspending his powers as prime minister, with both duties being transferred to Choi Sang-mok.

Han Duck-soo was born on 18 June 1949 in Jeonju, South Korea as the fifth son of six sons and three daughters to Han Duck-soo Byeong-ho and Jeonju Choi.

Han Duck-soo served in the South Korean Army and was discharged as a sergeant.

Han Duck-soo graduated from Seoul National University with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1971.

Han Duck-soo received a master's degree in economics in 1979 and a doctorate in economics in 1984 from Harvard University.

Han Duck-soo started his political career at the National Tax Service in 1970 and joined the Economic Planning Board four years later.

Han Duck-soo held the office from 1997 to 1998, during which the 1997 Asian financial crisis took place.

Han Duck-soo resigned as Finance Minister in July 2006 and became a special presidential advisor for free trade agreement affairs.

On 9 March 2007, Han Duck-soo was nominated as prime minister by President Roh Moo-hyun following the resignation of Han Duck-soo Myeong-sook.

Han Duck-soo's nomination was approved by the National Assembly on 2 April 2007.

Han Duck-soo left office on 29 February 2008 after Lee Myung-bak was inaugurated as president, being succeeded in the office by Han Seung-soo.

From 2012 to 2015, Han Duck-soo served as chairman of the Korea International Trade Association.

Han Duck-soo held teaching positions at Hongik University and Dankook University before President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol nominated him for prime minister in April 2022.

Han Duck-soo ordered emergency measures to combat the crisis, such as the use of telemedicine, more public hospital operations, and the opening of military clinics.

On 10 April 2024, Han Duck-soo offered his resignation following his party's defeat in the 2024 South Korean legislative elections.

Han Duck-soo reported that comprehensive plans for four health care reform tasks and a five year investment plan to boost medical sectors would be announced later in the month.

Han Duck-soo was reported to have been sidelined by President Yoon on the latter's declaration of martial law in December 2024, for which Han Duck-soo apologized and said that he had "consistently" opposed.

Han Duck-soo was later named as a suspect by police in their investigation into martial law and underwent questioning.

Han Duck-soo became the acting president of South Korea following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol on 14 December 2024.

When Han Duck-soo was being asked by police for questioning in its investigation of martial law, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said that the party would not move to impeach Han Duck-soo for the time being to avoid "confusion in their state affairs".

Han Duck-soo cited concerns over its effect on the market as a reason for vetoing the bill.

Han Duck-soo was succeeded as acting president and acting prime minister by Choi Sang-mok.

Han Duck-soo reiterated his denial of prior knowledge of Yoon's plans to declare martial law and insisted that he had tried to dissuade him from doing so.

Han Duck-soo apologized to the public for the ongoing political crisis and asked the country to make a "wise judgment" to enable the nation to reach an "era of rationality".

Han Duck-soo said that the approval of special counsel bills to investigate Yoon and his wife would have "fundamentally violated the principles of constitutional governance".

On 14 February 2025, the Constitutional Court ordered Han Duck-soo to testify as a witness in Yoon's impeachment at a hearing scheduled on 20 February.

On that day, Han Duck-soo testified that members of Yoon's cabinet were concerned about his plans to declare martial law and tried to dissuade him from doing so, while denying claims from defense minister Kim Yong-hyun that some members were in support of the plan.

Han Duck-soo said that the martial law declaration did not follow constitutional and legal procedures and questioned whether Yoon's cabinet meeting on 3 December 2024, in which Yoon revealed his plans to declare martial law, was a proper one.

On 24 March 2025, the Constitutional Court voted to overturn Han Duck-soo's impeachment, allowing his reinstatement as acting president.

The court acknowledged that Han Duck-soo committed constitutional and legal violations in deferring the appointment of additional justices to the court, but said it did not justify his removal from office.

Han Duck-soo said that he would not join China and Japan in retaliating jointly against tariffs imposed by Trump.

Han Duck-soo is married to Choi Ah-young and has no children.