South Korea's first woman PM steps down

SEOUL, Mar 7 (Reuters) South Korea's first woman prime minister stepped down today and returned to her ailing, liberal Uri Party to help boost its chances ahead of December's presidential election.

Han Myeong-sook said last month she intended to resign and told reporters upon officially leaving she may consider a run for president herself. She was prime minister for almost a year.

Executive power is vested in the president in South Korea, who serves for a single five-year term. Prime ministers, who are charged with managing domestic politics with little real power, have a history of being short-lived.

President Roh Moo-hyun is expected to name a replacement on Friday, a spokesman told reporters.

South Korean media said the person most likely to be the next prime minister is Han Duck-soo, a former finance minster.

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