South Korea’s Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has announced he will not run for president in an election scheduled for May 9.
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South Korea’s Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has announced he will not run for president in an election scheduled for May 9.
He has taken on the role temporarily amid a corruption scandal which led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.
South Korea to hold an election on May 9th to choose a successor for ousted President Park Geun-hye. https://t.co/MhNDc2R6ZV
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 15, 2017
Hwang had been considered a lead contender for the presidency, but said he wanted to focus on stabilising the country and managing the upcoming election.
“After much consideration, I reached a conclusion that I cannot put off or neglect the management of the current national crises and of state affairs. And I judged that it is not appropriate that I run in the presidential election, for the sake of state stabilisation and fair management of the presidential vote,” he said.
Ousted former leader Park has once again been summoned for questioning. She is being investigated in connection with an influence peddling scandal that has embroiled tech giant Samsung’s de facto chief and a number of other prominent political and business figures in South Korea.
Both Park and Samsung deny any wrongdoing.
The Constitutional Court upheld a parliamentary impeachment vote and dismissed Park on Friday (March 10). She is the country’s first democratically-elected president to be removed from office and no longer has presidential immunity, meaning a court case could be brought against her.