SEOUL, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- South Korea's Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook has offered to resign to join the race for the country's next president, Seoul officials said Thursday.
Han expressed her intention to step down when she met President Roh Moo-hyun at the presidential office, her aides said.
Han would return to the ruling Uri Party, whose popularity has plunged to a record low of 7.7 percent. She is expected to run for the Dec. 19 presidential election.
Roh has also decided to quit the ruling party to form a politically neutral cabinet ahead of the presidential poll, his aides said.
According to recent surveys, some 70 percent of the South Korean people expect the main opposition Grand National Party to take power in this year's presidential election.
