Lee Hong-koo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Hong-koo
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이홍구
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Lee in 1999
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| Prime Minister of South Korea | |
| In office 17 December 1994 – 18 December 1995 |
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| President | Kim Young-sam |
| Preceded by | Lee Yung-dug |
| Succeeded by | Lee Soo-sung |
| South Korean Ambassador to the United States | |
| In office 28 April 1998 – 1 August 2000 |
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| President | Kim Dae-jung |
| Preceded by | Park Kun-woo |
| Succeeded by | Yang Sung-chul |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 May 1934 Keiki-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan |
| Alma mater | Emory University (BA) Yale University (MA, PhD) |
| Lee Hong-koo | |
| Hangul |
이홍구
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| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | I Honggu |
| McCune–Reischauer | I Hongku |
Lee Hong-Koo (Hangul: 이홍구; Hanja: 李洪九; born 9 May 1934) is a South Korean former professor and politician. He served as the prime minister of South Korea from 1994 to 1995. Lee also worked as South Korea's ambassador to the United Kingdom and the United States. He was also the person who started the East Asia Institute in Seoul.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lee Hong-Koo was born on May 9, 1934, in what is now part of Seoul, South Korea. His family, the Jeonju Lee clan, was the ruling family of Korea from 1392 to 1910. He is a descendant of Prince Yeongsan, who was the son of King Seongjong of Joseon.
He grew up in Seoul and finished Gyeonggi High School in 1953. After high school, he started studying law at Seoul National University.
Academic Career
Studying in the United States
In 1955, Lee moved to the United States. He studied political science at Emory University and graduated in 1959. Later, he earned his master's degree (1961) and PhD (1968) in political science from Yale University. He also taught at Emory University from 1964 to 1968.
He returned to the U.S. in 1973 and 1974. During this time, he was a researcher at the Woodrow Wilson International Center and Harvard Law School. In 1978, Emory University gave him an honorary doctorate, which is a special degree given to honor someone's achievements.
Teaching in Seoul
Around 1968, Lee Hong-Koo came back to Korea. He became a professor of political science at Seoul National University, which is one of Korea's top universities. He taught there until 1988, when he started his career in government.
Political Career
After teaching for 33 years, Lee Hong-Koo began working in politics. In 1988, President Roh Tae-Woo chose him to be the unification minister. This role involves working on issues related to the peaceful joining of North and South Korea.
In 1991, Lee became the South Korean Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Later, from 1994 to 1995, he served as the 28th Prime Minister of South Korea under President Kim Young-Sam. In South Korea, the President has more power than the Prime Minister. At this time, Lee was not part of any political party.
Joining a Political Party
In 1996, Lee Hong-Koo joined the New Korea Party. He ran as a candidate for this party in the National Assembly elections. The National Assembly is like the parliament or congress in other countries.
Lee was elected as a member of the National Assembly in April 1996. He was placed high on the party's list, which meant he was guaranteed a seat. The New Korea Party won many seats in that election.
Quick Rise and World Cup Role
Lee quickly became important in 1996. He joined the Executive Committee of the New Korea Party and then became the leader of the party. Many people thought he might become the next President after Kim Young-Sam.
From 1995 to early 1996, Lee was the chairman of the World Cup Bidding Committee. This committee successfully worked to have South Korea co-host the 2002 FIFA World Cup with Japan.
In December 1996, Lee Hong-Koo stepped down from his top leadership role in the New Korea Party. However, he remained a member of the party.
Ambassador to the United States
In 1997, Kim Dae-Jung won the presidential election. On March 24, 1998, President Kim Dae-Jung chose Lee Hong-Koo to be the South Korean Ambassador to the United States. This was seen as a sign that Korean politics was changing. It showed that the new government wanted to work with people from different political backgrounds.
Lee Hong-Koo served as ambassador to the U.S. for two and a half years, from May 1998 to August 2000. During this time, President Kim Dae-Jung's "Sunshine Policy" aimed to improve relations between North and South Korea.
After Politics
Lee Hong-Koo was involved in government and diplomacy for 12 years (1988-2000). After returning to private life in 2000, he became a newspaper writer and worked with think tanks. Think tanks are groups that do research and offer advice on important topics. He became a member of the Club of Madrid, which includes former heads of state and government. He also helped start his own think tank.
Starting the 'East Asia Institute'
In May 2002, Lee Hong-Koo founded the East Asia Institute (EAI). This is an independent, non-profit organization in Seoul that focuses on political and foreign policy research. By the 2010s, EAI was known as one of the top think tanks in the world.
Lee Hong-Koo was the Chairman of the Board at EAI for ten years, retiring in May 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Lee Hong-koo para niños
