SEOUL, March 7 (UPI) -- South Korea's Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook resigned Wednesday apparently to join the race for the country's next leadership.
The county's first female prime minister would return to the ruling Uri Party which is facing an uphill battle in the presidential race with its popularity plunging to record lows.
Han has been considered one of the presidential hopefuls in the Dec. 19 election. Potential candidates from the main opposition Grand National Party are far ahead of Uri's presidential contenders, according to recent opinion polls.
She is likely to be replaced by former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is currently President Roh Moo-hyun's adviser on free trade negotiations with the United States, officials said.
