Former PPP Leader Han Dong-hoon Launches Presidential Bid

Han Dong-hoon, the former head of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party (PPP), stepped into the spotlight Thursday, announcing his run for president in a snap election slated for June 3. The move comes after the dramatic impeachment of ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, finalized by the Constitutional Court on April 4, following his ill-fated martial law declaration last December. Han’s bid kicks off what’s shaping up to be a heated race as the country looks to heal from months of political upheaval.

Speaking at the National Assembly, Han, a former prosecutor who’s become a familiar face in politics, promised to get South Korea back on track. “We’re at a turning point,” he told the crowd. “It’s time to pull together, rebuild trust, and make sure our democracy works for everyone.” Han led the PPP from July to December 2024, but his time at the helm was rocky, he stepped down after backing Yoon’s impeachment, a decision that won him fans among reformers but left some party loyalists fuming.

Han, once tight with Yoon, broke ranks by opposing the decree and later supporting the impeachment, a gamble that’s now defining his campaign. He’s up against heavy hitters like Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s populist leader, who’s already polling strong. With a sluggish economy, North Korea flexing its muscles, and tricky trade talks with the U.S. under President Donald Trump, the next leader’s got a full plate. Analysts say Han’s law-and-order roots and push for change could give him an edge, though mending fences with his own party might be his first big test.