South Korea’s acting leader, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, says he is resigning amid reports he will run in next month’s presidential election.

South Korea's third acting leader in five months, Lee Ju-ho, is an understated labour economist and education bureaucrat thrust into managing high-stakes trade talks with the United States and a country reeling from political knife fights before a crucial election.

South Korean acting president Han Duck-soo resigned his position as prime minister Thursday ahead of a likely run for president in a June 3 election called to replace President Yoon Suk Yeol who was r