Han Duck-soo
한덕수
Han in 2022
34th Prime Minister of South Korea
Assumed office
21 May 2022
PresidentYoon Suk Yeol
DeputyChoo Kyung-ho
Preceded byChoo Kyung-ho (acting)
Kim Boo-kyum
In office
2 April 2007 – 29 February 2008
PresidentRoh Moo-hyun
Lee Myung-bak
Preceded byHan Myeong-sook
Succeeded byHan Seung-soo
South Korean Ambassador to the United States
In office
9 March 2009 – 17 February 2012
PresidentLee Myung-bak
Preceded byLee Tae-sik
Succeeded byChoi Young-jin
Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea
Minister of Finance and Economy
In office
14 March 2005 – 18 July 2006
Prime MinisterLee Hae-chan
Han Myeong-sook
Preceded byLee Hun-jai
Succeeded byKwon O-kyu
Personal details
Born (1949-06-18) 18 June 1949
Chonju, South Korea
Political partyIndependent
SpouseChoi Ah-young
EducationSeoul National University (BA)
Harvard University (MA, PhD)
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHan Deoksu
McCune–ReischauerHan Tŏksu

Han Duck-soo (한덕수; born 18 June 1949) is a South Korean diplomat, economist, and politician serving as the current prime minister of South Korea since May 2022. Han is the fifth person to hold the office twice,[1] having previously served as the 34th Prime Minister under President Roh Moo-hyun from 2007 to 2008. He also held office as ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2012 and as Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association from 2012 to 2015.[2][3]

Early life

Han was born in 1949 in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do. Han graduated from Seoul National University with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1971. He received a master's degree in economics in 1979 and a doctorate in economics in 1984 from Harvard University.[4]

Career

His career spans over 35 years, starting at the National Tax Service in 1970 and the Economic Planning Board four years later. In 1982, he moved to what is now the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, where he rose to Vice Minister in 1997–1998, during the Asian financial crisis; he later became Minister of Trade Affairs (1998–2000), handling trade negotiations with foreign governments.

Han subsequently became Minister of Finance of South Korea[5] and served as Acting Prime Minister from 14 March 2006 to 19 April 2006. He resigned as Finance Minister in July 2006 and instead became a special presidential advisor for free trade agreement affairs.[5]

On 9 March 2007, Han was nominated as Prime Minister by President Roh Moo-hyun following the resignation of Han Myeong-sook.[5][6] His nomination was approved by the National Assembly on 2 April 2007.[6]

In 2022, Han became prime minister again at the age of 72 and 11 months, becoming the oldest person to take the office.[7]

Honours

National honours

Personal life

Han is married to Choi Ah-young and has no children.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "[속보] 윤 대통령, 한덕수 국무총리 임명". hankyung.com (in Korean). 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "Former Chairmen of the Korea International Trade Association".
  3. ↑ "Former Prime Minister Han Duk-soo Appointed as the Next KITA Chairman".
  4. ↑ Nam, Hyun-woo (3 April 2022). "Yoon nominates Han Duck-soo as prime minister". The Korea Times.
  5. 1 2 3 "S. Korean president nominates new PM", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), 9 March 2007.
  6. 1 2 "New S.Korean PM nomination approved by National Assembly", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), 2 April 2007.
  7. ↑ "Han Duck-soo appointed prime minister after rocky confirmation process". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  8. ↑ Yu, Seon-hui (15 April 2022). "Paintings by Wife of Prime Minister Nominee Han Duck-soo Sold to Hyosung Group and Booyoung Housing for Tens of Millions of Won". Kyunghyang Shinmun.
  9. ↑ Park, Jong-o (4 April 2022). "Just who is Han Duck-soo, the public service veteran Yoon tapped to be his PM?". The Hankyoreh.


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