South Korea's ex-Prime Minister Han says he will seek the presidency in June election

South Korea's former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Friday he will run in next month’s presidential election and would seek to lessen the powers of the office and ease strife-ridden domestic politics if he wins.

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Han’s entry heats up the scramble among conservatives to unify behind a candidate to compete with liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung, whose campaign recently was set back by a court decision to open a new trial on election law violation charges.

“I’ve determined to find what I can do for the future of the Republic of Korea that I love and for all of us. I'll try my utmost to be chosen by the people at this presidential election,” Han told a press conference at the National Assembly.