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Lee Wan-koo (Korean: 이완구; Hanja: 李完九; 16 July 1950 – 14 October 2021) was a South Korean politician who briefly served as Prime Minister in 2015.
Lee Wan-koo | |
|---|---|
이완구 | |
 | |
| 43rd Prime Minister of South Korea | |
| In office 17 February 2015 – 27 April 2015 | |
| President | Park Geun-hye |
| Preceded by | Jung Hong-won |
| Succeeded by | Choi Kyoung-hwan (acting) Hwang Kyo-ahn |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 25 April 2013 – 29 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Kim Geun-tae |
| Succeeded by | Chung Jin-suk |
| Constituency | Buyeo–Cheongyang |
| In office 30 May 1996 – 29 May 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Cho Bu-young |
| Succeeded by | Kim Hak-won |
| Constituency | Cheongyang–Hongseong |
| Chairman of the Saenuri Party Interim | |
| In office 15 May 2014 – 13 July 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Hwang Woo-yea |
| Succeeded by | Kim Moo-sung |
| Governor of South Chungcheong Province | |
| In office 1 July 2006 – 4 December 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Sim Dae-pyung |
| Succeeded by | Ahn Hee-jung |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 July 1950 Cheongyang County, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea |
| Died | 14 October 2021 (aged 71) Seoul, South Korea |
| Political party | Saenuri |
| Alma mater | Sungkyunkwan University (BA) Michigan State University (MA) Dankook University (PhD) |
| Lee Wan-koo | |
| Hangul | 이완구 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 李完九 |
| Revised Romanization | I Wangu |
| McCune–Reischauer | I Wanku |
Biography
editLee was born in 1950 in Bibong-myeon, Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Province. After graduating from Sungkyunkwan University, Lee worked as a public officer in the Economic Planning Board (current Ministry of Strategy and Finance) and later moved to the National Police Agency.[1] From 1982 to 1984, he studied at Michigan State University in the United States and received an M. A. in Criminal Justice.[2] From 1986 to 1989, Lee served as Consul for the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles.[2][3]
In 1995, Lee entered into politics, joining the Democratic Liberal Party (later renamed as the New Korea Party). In the 1996 election, he was elected as a member of the National Assembly for the New Korea Party. In 1998, he joined the United Liberal Democrats, led by Kim Jong-pil.[1] In the 2006 election, he was elected as the governor of South Chungcheong Province. He resigned as governor on 23 December 2009, as a protest against the Lee Myung-bak government.[4]
Lee was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.[4] After recovering, he was re-elected as a member of the National Assembly in a 2013 by-election. In May 2014, he became the floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party.[1]
Prime Minister of South Korea
editOn 23 January 2015, President Park Geun-hye named Lee, at the time parliamentary floor leader, as prime minister.[5] Lee was confirmed by the National Assembly as Prime Minister on 16 February 2015; the National Assembly voted with 148 Yes, 128 No, with 5 Abstained.[6]
On 20 April 2015, Lee offered to resign as Prime Minister, amid allegations of bribery.[7][8] He formally stepped down on 27 April 2015, apologizing over a scandal in which he was accused of taking an illegal cash gift from Sung Wan-jong, a businessman.[9] President Park Geun-hye accepted Lee's resignation.[9]
Conviction
editIn January 2016, he was convicted of taking illegal funds by the Seoul Central District Court.[10] However, in September 2016, he was acquitted by the Seoul High Court.[11] On 2017, the Supreme Court upheld the Seoul High Court's acquittal of Lee.[12]
Death
editIn 2016, Lee's cancer returned.[4] He died on 14 October 2021, due to multiple myeloma, at the age of 71. He died about two weeks before former President Roh Tae Woo died on October 26, 2021.[1][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "혈액암 투병해온 이완구 전 국무총리 별세". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 14 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ a b "2005 Honorees". cj.msu.edu. School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University. 2005. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
Wan Koo Lee, MS, 84', ... Following his graduation from the School of Criminal Justice, he served as Consul for the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles,...
- ^ "PM-designate Lee Wan-koo: I'd give the President candid advice, work with opposition as partners". The Korea Post (in Korean). 26 January 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
Resume of Prime Minister-designate Lee Wan-koo
- ^ a b c d "(LEAD) Former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo dies at 71". Yonhap News Agency. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "South Korean President Park names Lee Wan-koo prime minister". South China Morning Post. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "(LEAD) Parliament endorses PM nominee". Yonhap News Agency. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ South Korea Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo offers to resign - CNN.com
- ^ The Associated Press (21 April 2015). "S. Korean PM to resign after 2 months amid bribe scandal". The Yomiuri Shimbun.
- ^ a b Choe Sang-hun (27 April 2015). "South Korea’s Premier Resigns After Claims He Took an Illegal Cash Gift". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ^ Sang-Hun, Choe (29 January 2016). "Lee Wan-koo, Ex-Premier of South Korea, Guilty of Taking Illegal Funds". The New York Times.
- ^ Lee, Kyung-min (27 September 2016). "Ex-Prime Minister's conviction overturned". The Korea Times. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Top court upholds not guilty verdict for Liberty Korea Party leader in bribery trial". Yonhap News Agency. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2021.