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 former acting President Han Duck-soo said on Friday he would join the race to become the country's next president after resigning the day before.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been mulling whether to contest the election, while the main opposition candidate and front-runner suffered a setback in court.