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Han Duck-soo

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For the founder and former chairman of Chongryon, see Han Duk-su.
In this Korean name, the family name is Han.

Han Duck-soo
한덕수
Han in 2024
38th & 48th Prime Minister of South Korea
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 May 2022
PresidentYoon Suk Yeol
DeputyChoo Kyung-ho
Choi Sang-mok
Park Soon-ae
Lee Ju-ho
Preceded byKim Boo-kyum
In office
2 April 2007 – 29 February 2008
PresidentRoh Moo-hyun
Preceded byHan Myeong-sook
Succeeded byHan Seung-soo
Acting
16 March 2006 – 19 April 2006
PresidentRoh Moo-hyun
Preceded byLee Hae-chan
Succeeded byHan Myeong-sook
South Korean Ambassador to the United States
In office
9 March 2009 – 17 February 2012
PresidentLee Myung-bak
Preceded byLee Tae-sik
Succeeded byChoi Young-jin
Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Finance and Economy
In office
14 March 2005 – 18 July 2006
Prime MinisterLee Hae-chan
Himself (acting)
Han Myeong-sook
Preceded byLee Hun-jai
Succeeded byKwon O-kyu
Personal details
Born (1949-06-18) 18 June 1949 (age 75)
Chonju, South Korea
Political partyIndependent
SpouseChoi Ah-young
Alma materSeoul National University (BA)
Harvard University (MA, PhD)
Signature
Korean name
Hangul
한덕수
Hanja
韓悳洙
Revised RomanizationHan Deoksu
McCune–ReischauerHan Tŏksu

Han Duck-soo (Korean: 한덕수; born 18 June 1949) is a South Korean diplomat, economist, and politician serving as the 48th and current prime minister of South Korea since May 2022. Han is the fifth person to hold the office twice,[1] having previously served as the 38th prime minister under President Roh Moo-hyun from 2007 to 2008. He also held office as ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2012 and as chairman of the Korea International Trade Association from 2012 to 2015.[2][3]

Early life and education

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Han was born on 18 June 1949 in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, as the fifth son of six sons and three daughters to Han Byeong-ho and Jeonju Choi. He served in the South Korean Army and was discharged as a sergeant.[4] Han graduated from Seoul National University with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1971. He received a master's degree in economics in 1979 and a doctorate in economics in 1984 from Harvard University.[5]

Career

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Early political career

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Han started his political career at the National Tax Service in 1970 and joined the Economic Planning Board four years later. In 1982, he moved to what is now the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, where he eventually became Vice Minister.[6] He held the office from 1997 to 1998, during which the 1997 Asian financial crisis took place. After Han left the position, he was Minister of Trade Affairs from 1998 to 2000, where his primary role was handling trade negotiations with foreign governments.

Han became Minister of Finance in March 2005.[7] Later, he briefly served as Acting Prime Minister from 14 March 2006 to 19 April 2006.[8] He resigned as Finance Minister in July 2006 and became a special presidential advisor for free trade agreement affairs.[7]

Prime Minister (2007–2008)

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On 9 March 2007, Han was nominated as prime minister by president Roh Moo-hyun following the resignation of Han Myeong-sook.[7][9] His nomination was approved by the National Assembly on 2 April 2007.[9] He left office on 29 February 2008 after Lee Myung-bak was inaugurated as president, being succeeded in the office by Han Seung-soo.

Other offices

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As Han was viewed as a political centrist, president Lee Myung-bak appointed him as South Korean Ambassador to the United States in 2009. During his time as ambassador, he played a major role in reaching the United States–Korea Free Trade Agreement.[10][11] From 2012 to 2015, Han also served as Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association.[2]

Prime Minister (2022–present)

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Han held teaching positions at Hongik University and Dankook University before president-elect Yoon Suk Yeol nominated him for prime minister in April 2022.[12][13] During his confirmation hearings, Han claimed stabilizing the economy would be his top priority in office.[14] The Democratic Party, who held a majority of the seats in the National Assembly, and the Justice Party both boycotted his confirmation.[15] However, he was approved in May and became prime minister again at the age of 72 and 11 months, making him the oldest person ever to take the office.[6][14]

In February 2024, after a government plan to boost admissions into medical schools was introduced, thousands of doctors stopped working in protest, claiming it would hurt the quality of service. The protest caused considerable delays to surgical procedures and medical treatment. Han ordered emergency measures to combat the crisis, such as the use of telemedicine, more public hospital operations, and the opening of military clinics.[16] On 22 February, Han announced that South Korea's health alert would be raised to 'severe' during a disaster management meeting.[17][18] A couple days later, Han announced that South Korea would send military and community doctors to combat the ongoing emergency.[19]

On 10 April 2024, Han offered his resignation following his party's defeat in the 2024 South Korean legislative elections.[20]

In August 2024, Han advised president Yoon Suk Yeol to strike down four bills sponsored by the opposition, claiming they breached the president's nomination rights enshrined in the Constitution.[21] In the same month, amid the prolonged doctor's strike, Han announced that hospitals could extend the application period for trainee doctor programs. The statement occurred after only 104 candidates (1.4 percent of trainee doctor positions available in 126 hospitals) had applied for the programs.[22] Han also 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.[23]

Personal life

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Han is married to Choi Ah-young and has no children.[24][6]

Honours

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National honours

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References

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  1. ^ [속보] 윤 대통령, 한덕수 국무총리 임명. The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Former Chairmen of the Korea International Trade Association".
  3. ^ "Former Prime Minister Han Duk-soo Appointed as the Next KITA Chairman".
  4. ^ 제38대 국무총리, 제48대 국무총리 내정자 한덕수(韓悳洙). 청주일보 (in Korean). 4 April 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  5. ^ Nam, Hyun-woo (3 April 2022). "Yoon nominates Han Duck-soo as prime minister". The Korea Times.
  6. ^ a b c Park, Jong-o (4 April 2022). "Just who is Han Duck-soo, the public service veteran Yoon tapped to be his PM?". The Hankyoreh.
  7. ^ a b c "S. Korean president nominates new PM", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), 9 March 2007.
  8. ^ "Han Duck-soo - South Korea at COP28". nations-united.org. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b "New S.Korean PM nomination approved by National Assembly", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), 2 April 2007.
  10. ^ "Ambassador Kirk Speaks About the Benefits a U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement will Bring to American Businesses and Workers". United States Trade Representative. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  11. ^ Lee, Kevin (3 April 2022). "Han Duck-soo nominated as 1st prime minister of the Yoon's administration". The Korea Post (in Korean). Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  12. ^ Jun-tae, Ko (3 April 2022). "Han Duck-soo nominated as prime minister". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  13. ^ "S. Korea's incoming president nominates his prime minister". AP News. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  14. ^ a b Sang-ho, Song (21 May 2022). "(LEAD) Yoon appoints Han as prime minister after parliamentary confirmation". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Han Duck-soo appointed prime minister after rocky confirmation process". Korea JoongAng Daily. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  16. ^ "South Korea trainee doctors walk out in protest against reforms". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  17. ^ "South Korea health alert raised to 'severe' over doctors walkout". NBC News. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  18. ^ "South Korea health alert raised to 'severe' amid doctor walkout". The Japan Times. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  19. ^ Kim, Jack (28 February 2024). "South Korea to send military doctors to hospitals amid doctors' protest". Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  20. ^ "South Korea: PM offers to resign after election defeat". dw.com. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  21. ^ Son, Ji-hyoung (6 August 2024). "Yoon advised to veto bills over broadcast governance". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  22. ^ Lee, Soo-Jung (7 August 2024). "Gov't extends recruitment period for junior doctors as 98% of slots remain open". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  23. ^ "PM says hospitals will extend application period for trainee doctor programs". The Korea Herald. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  24. ^ Yu, Seon-hui (15 April 2022). "Paintings by Wife of Prime Minister Nominee Han Duck-soo Sold to Hyosung Group and Booyoung Housing for Tens of Millions of Won". Kyunghyang Shinmun.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of South Korea
2007–2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of South Korea
2022–present 		Incumbent
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Ambassador of South Korea to the United States
2009–2012 		Succeeded by


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