🌍 INTERNATIONAL HERO
May 1, 2025

A Resignation Before the Ballot: South Korea Heads to Snap Election

🪷 THEME: Constitutional Crisis, Leadership Transition, Democratic Elections
🏛️ CATEGORY: International Politics, Constitutional Law, East Asian Affairs

📜 INTRO WHISPER
In a land once shaken by martial law and democratic defiance, another chapter unfolds. South Korea’s acting leader steps aside, not in retreat, but in pursuit — to win the people’s mandate under a sky still echoing with the questions of power and principle.

🔍 HIGHLIGHTS

• Resignation to Contest: Acting President Han Duck-soo is set to resign on May 2 in order to meet the May 4 constitutional deadline for running in South Korea’s June 3 presidential election.
• Backdrop of Crisis: The snap election follows the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who controversially imposed a short-lived martial law in December 2024.
• Likely Successor in Interim: Upon Han’s resignation, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is expected to take over as acting president, as per constitutional mandate.
• Political Contenders: Han is seen as the frontrunner among conservatives, positioned against liberal Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung.
• High-Stakes Politics: Han’s elevated profile, built on handling U.S. trade tensions and stabilizing governance during turbulent times, is central to his electoral appeal.

🧭 GS PAPER MAP

• GS II: Comparison of the Constitutional Scheme of India with That of Other Countries
• GS II: International Relations – East Asia & Global Democratic Trends
• GS IV: Ethics in Governance – Resignation, Political Ambition, and Public Trust

🪔 A THOUGHT SPARK — by IAS Monk

True power is not in holding the throne, but in stepping down for a chance to earn it. In Han’s resignation lies the paradox of modern democracy — the race begins only when you first renounce your crown.