Han Duck-soo

For the founder and former chairman of Chongryon, see Han Duk-su.

In this Korean name, the family name is Han.

His Excellency Han Duck-soo
한덕수
Han in 2022
34th and 44th Prime Minister of South Korea
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 May 2022
President	Yoon Suk-yeol
Preceded by	Kim Boo-kyum
In office 2 April 2007 – 29 February 2008
President	Roh Moo-hyun Lee Myung-bak
Preceded by	Han Myeong-sook
Succeeded by	Han Seung-soo
South Korean Ambassador to the United States
In office 9 March 2009 – 17 February 2012
President	Lee Myung-bak
Preceded by	Lee Tae-sik
Succeeded by	Choi Young-jin
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy
In office 14 March 2005 – 18 July 2006
President	Roh Moo-hyun
Prime Minister	Lee Hae-chan Han Myeong-sook
Preceded by	Lee Hun-jai
Succeeded by	Kwon O-kyu
Personal details
Born	(1949-06-18) 18 June 1949 Jeonju, South Korea
Political party	Independent
Education	Seoul National University (BA) Harvard University (MA, PhD)
Occupation	Diplomat, politician
Profession	Economist
Korean name
Hangul	한덕수
Hanja	韓悳洙
Revised Romanization	Han Deoksu
McCune–Reischauer	Han Tŏksu

Han Duck-soo (한덕수; born 18 June 1949) is a South Korean diplomat, economist, and politician serving as the 44th and current Prime Minister of South Korea since May 2022. Han is the fifth person to serve as the prime minister twice having served as the 34th Prime Minister under President Roh Moo-hyun from 2007 to 2008. He was the ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2012. He served as Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association from 2012 to 2015.

Education

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.

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 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.

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

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