Fmr. PM Han declares presidential candidacy ahead of PPP convention; DP proposes bill following Lee's court ruling

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min.

We begin with the latest on the upcoming presidential election with the clocking ticking fast.

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has made his presidential bid official, pledging for a major change in power structure.

DP's presidential hopeful Lee Jae-myung continued campaigning today, and so did PPP's Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon ahead of the party convention tomorrow.

Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports.

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo officially announced his run for president on Friday morning, just one day after stepping down as acting president and prime minister.

"I just can't accept that even trade and diplomacy, which are vital to our national interest, are being used for political fights. I've decided to find a way to contribute for the future of the Republic of Korea I love, and for all of us."

Han pledged immediate constitutional reform.

He laid out a plan to draft an amendment in his first year in office, complete it in the second, hold general and presidential elections in the third year under the new Constitution, and then step down immediately.

He also pledged to tackle trade issues including U.S. tariffs as well as to work for national unity and support the vulnerable.

Han's entry into the race is expected to shake up the People Power Party's primary, now in its final stage, as he's expected to form a coalition with the PPP's final candidate.

The PPP will wrap up its two-day voting on Friday to choose the party's presidential candidate, with results based 50 percent on party members and 50 percent on a public opinion poll.

Ahead of the party convention on Saturday, where the final candidate will be announced, Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon on Friday visited different regions to gather support.

Kim focused on the Seoul Metropolitan Area, while Han visited Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do Province.

Meanwhile, despite the political fallout from the Supreme Court's decision on his election law violation case, Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung is sticking to his schedule.

Lee visited Gangwon-do Province to listen to the voices of the people.

The Supreme Court on Thursday sent Lee's election law violation case back to the high court with the intent of a guilty verdict.

The DP's election committee on Friday criticized the ruling, calling it an unfair political decision.

The National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee led by members of the DP decided on Friday to initiate the review of a DP-proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, despite opposition from PPP members.

The amendment aims to halt legal proceedings once a defendant is elected president.

The DP plans to refer the bill to a plenary session next week.

Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.