Regardless of which candidate wins the election in June, he will be tasked with suppressing growing working-class opposition anger amid worsening economic and social conditions.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been mulling whether to run for election, while the main opposition candidate and front-runner suffered a setback in court.

Former Labor Minister and staunch conservative Kim Moon Soo won the presidential nomination of South Korea’s main conservative party, facing an uphill battle against liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung for the June 3 election.