South Korea's former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo says he will run in next month's presidential election and would seek to lessen the powers of the office and ease strife-ridden domestic politics if he wins.

South Korea’s Acting President Han Duck-soo stepped down from his post on Thursday, paving the way for a widely expected announcement of his presidential candidacy.Han’s resignation comes just days before the legal deadline for public officials to leave their posts if they intend to run for president.

Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo on Friday declared he will run in the June 3 presidential election as an independent,