Who is S. Korea's acting president Han Duck-soo?

Country's PM known to be a non-partisan official with reputation for rationality

SEOUL - Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became South Korea's acting president after the impeachment of Mr Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec 14, is a career technocrat whose wide-ranging experience and reputation for rationality could serve him well in his latest role.

With Parliament's impeachment vote against the President passed after his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, Mr Yoon is suspended from exercising presidential powers, and the Constitution requires the prime minister to take over in an acting role.

In a country sharply divided by partisan rhetoric, Mr Han has been a rare official whose varied career transcended party lines.

He faces the challenging task of keeping the government functioning through its gravest political crisis in four decades, while dealing with threats from nuclear-armed neighbour North Korea and a slowing economy at home.

His tenure as acting president could be threatened by criminal investigations into his role in the martial law decision.

Mr Han, 75, has served in leadership positions for more than three decades under five different presidents, both conservative and liberal.