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South Korean politician (1950–2021) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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|
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 |
Lee 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]
On 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]
In 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]
In 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]
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