Lee Beom-seok (prime minister) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Beom-seok
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| 이범석 | |
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| 1st Prime Minister of South Korea | |
| In office August 1, 1948 – April 21, 1950 |
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| President | Syngman Rhee |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Shin Sung-mo (acting) |
| Member of the House of Councillors of the Republic of Korea (5th National Assembly) |
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| In office August 8, 1960 – May 16, 1961 |
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| President | Yun Po Sun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 20, 1900 Hwangseong, Korean Empire (now Seoul, South Korea) |
| Died | May 11, 1972 (aged 71) Seoul, South Korea |
| Spouse | Kim Maria |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Korean Empire Korean Provisional Government South Korea |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | I Beom-seok |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yi Pŏmsŏk |
| Art name | |
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Cheolgi |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ch'ŏlgi |
Lee Beom-seok (born October 20, 1900 – died May 11, 1972) was a very important person in Korean history. He was a fighter for Korea's independence and became the first ever Prime Minister of South Korea. He served in this role from 1948 to 1950. He was also known by his nickname, Cheolgi.
Contents
Early Life and Fight for Independence
Lee Beom-seok was born in Gyeongseong (which is now Seoul) on October 20, 1900. His father was an officer during the Joseon Dynasty, a long period when Korea was ruled by kings. Lee Beom-seok was also a descendant of a son of Sejong the Great, a famous Korean king.
When he was a teenager, Lee Beom-seok took part in activities to make Korea free from foreign rule. Because of this, he had to leave Korea and live in the Republic of China. In 1919, he started studying at the Shinheung military academy. This was a special military school that aimed to train soldiers to fight for Korea's independence.
Soon after, Lee Beom-seok fought in the Battle of Cheongsanni. This was an important six-day battle in Manchuria, a region in Northeast Asia. He later became a general in the Korean Liberation Army. This army was part of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, which was a government set up by Koreans living outside Korea to fight for their country's freedom.
Becoming South Korea's First Prime Minister
In 1945, after Korea was finally free, Lee Beom-seok tried to return home. However, he had to stay in China for a while longer. In 1946, he successfully came back to Korea. He then helped start the Korean National Youth Association.
Lee Beom-seok believed that South Korea should have its own single government. He worked with Syngman Rhee to make this happen. On July 31, 1948, he became the first Prime Minister of the newly formed South Korea. He held this important position until April 20, 1950. As Prime Minister, he was a key leader in setting up the new country.
Later Life and Legacy
After his time as Prime Minister, Lee Beom-seok continued to serve his country. He worked as the Korean Ambassador to the Republic of China. An ambassador is a country's main representative in another country. He also served as the Secretary of the Interior, which is a government role dealing with internal affairs.
He tried to become the Vice President of South Korea in 1952 and again in 1956, but he did not win these elections. Throughout the 1960s, he was a strong leader in the political parties that were against the ruling government. Towards the end of his career, Lee Beom-seok became an adviser for the Board of National Unification. He also mentored Park Chung-Hee, who later became a president of South Korea.
Lee Beom-seok passed away on May 11, 1972, in Seoul. He was 71 years old. His funeral was a state funeral, meaning it was a public ceremony with honors, held in Namsan Mountain Square. He was buried in the Seoul National Cemetery, a place where important national figures are laid to rest.
See also
- Korean independence movement
Site web
- Lee Beom-seok Memorial museum
- Lee Beom-seok
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