South Korea's third acting leader in five months, Lee Ju-ho, is an understated labour economist and education bureaucrat thrust into managing high-stakes trade talks with the United States and a country reeling from political knife fights before a crucial election.

The appointment of a new acting president came as Han’s candidacy injected more uncertainty into an election race that has been upended by doubts over the eligibility of the lef

South Korea’s presidential race was upended Thursday, less than five weeks until election day, when the front-runner was ordered to undergo a new trial on charges of election law violations and the nation’s acting president resigned amid speculation he will enter the field.