Han Duck-soo
Han Duck-soo | |
|---|---|
Han in 2024 | |
| Acting President of South Korea | |
| In office March 24, 2025 – May 1, 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Choi Sang-mok (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Lee Ju-ho (acting) |
| In office December 14, 2024 – December 27, 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Yoon Suk Yeol |
| Succeeded by | Choi Sang-mok (acting)
|
| 38 & 48th Prime Minister of South Korea | |
| In office May 21, 2022 – May 1, 2025 | |
| President | Yoon Suk Yeol Himself (acting) Choi Sang-mok (acting) Himself (acting) |
| Deputy |
|
| Preceded by | Kim Boo-kyum Choo Kyung-ho (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Kim Min-seok Lee Ju-ho (acting) |
| In office April 3, 2007 – February 28, 2008 | |
| President | Roh Moo-hyun Lee Myung-bak |
| Preceded by | Han Myeong-sook |
| Succeeded by | Han Seung-soo
|
| In office March 16, 2006 – April 19, 2006 (acting) | |
| President | Roh Moo-hyun |
| Preceded by | Lee Hae-chan |
| Succeeded by | Han Myeong-sook
|
| South Korean Ambassador to the United States | |
| In office March 9, 2009 – February 17, 2012 | |
| President | Lee Myung-bak |
| Preceded by | Lee Tae-sik |
| Succeeded by | Choi Young-jin
|
| Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance | |
| In office March 14, 2005 – July 18, 2006 | |
| Prime Minister |
|
| Preceded by | Lee Hun-jai |
| Succeeded by | Kwon O-kyu
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 June 1949 Jeonju, South Korea |
| Party | People Power (since 2025) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (until 2025) |
| Spouse | Choi Ah-young (최아영) |
| Education | |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | South Korea |
| Branch | Republic of Korea Army |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Economics |
| Thesis | External shocks, adjustments, and growth: Korean case (1984) |
| Doctoral advisor | |
| Criminal information | |
| Movement | 2024 martial law |
| Convictions |
|
| Criminal penalty | 23 years imprisonment |
Date apprehended | 21 January 2026 |
| Imprisoned at | Seoul Detention Center |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 한덕수 |
| Hanja | 韓悳洙 |
| RR | Han Deoksu |
| MR | Han Tŏksu |
Han Duck-soo (Korean: 한덕수; born 18 June 1949) is a South Korean diplomat, economist, and politician who served as the acting president of South Korea in December 2024 and from March to May 2025 and as the prime minister of South Korea from 2007 to 2008 and from 2022 to 2025.
Born in Jeonju, Han is the fifth person to hold the prime minister's office twice, having served under Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Yoon Suk Yeol. He also 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.
After the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol on 14 December 2024, Han became the acting president of South Korea. Thirteen days later, Han himself was also 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. This ended his role as acting president and suspended his powers as prime minister, with both duties being transferred to Choi Sang-mok.
However, Han was reinstated as both acting president and prime minister on 24 March 2025, following a 7–1 vote from the court. After Yoon's removal from office in April 2025, Han was initially expected to serve as acting president until the 2025 presidential election, but he resigned on 1 May to launch an independent bid for president, and was briefly the People Power Party candidate while Kim Moon-soo's nomination was suspended and then restored on 10 May.
In August 2025, Han was indicted by special prosecutors investigating Yoon's 2024 martial law declaration. On 21 January 2026, Han was found guilty and sentenced to 23 years in prison for his role in the martial law declaration, on charges of aiding and abetting in insurrection, perjury, falsifying and destroying official documents.