Lee Nak-yon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Lee Nak-yon
이낙연
Lee in 2017
Leader of the New Future Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 February 2024 Co-leader with Kim Jong-min
Preceded by	Party established
Member of the National Assembly
In office 30 May 2020 – 15 September 2021
Preceded by	Chung Sye-kyun
Succeeded by	Choi Jae-hyung
Constituency	Seoul – Jongno
In office 30 May 2000 – 15 May 2014
Preceded by	Kim In-gon
Succeeded by	Lee Gae-ho
Constituency	South Jeolla Province – Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang and Jangseong
Prime Minister of South Korea
In office 31 May 2017 – 14 January 2020
President	Moon Jae-in
Deputy	Kim Dong-yeon Kim Sang-gon Yoo Eun-hae Hong Nam-ki
Preceded by	Hwang Kyo-ahn Yoo Il-ho (Acting)
Succeeded by	Chung Sye-kyun
Leader of the Democratic Party
In office 29 August 2020 – 9 March 2021
Preceded by	Lee Hae-chan
Succeeded by	Kim Tae-nyeon (acting) Song Young-gil
37th Governor of South Jeolla Province
In office 1 July 2014 – 10 May 2017
Preceded by	Park Jun-young
Succeeded by	Kim Yung-rok
Personal details
Born	(1951-12-20) 20 December 1951 (age 73) Yeonggwang, South Korea
Political party	New Future
Other political affiliations	Democratic (2015–2024) New Reform (2024)
Spouse	Kim Suk-hee
Children	1
Education	Seoul National University (LLB)
Signature
Korean name
Hangul	이낙연
Hanja	李洛淵
Revised Romanization	I Nagyeon
McCune–Reischauer	Ri Ragyŏn

Lee Nak-yon (Hangul: 이낙연; Hanja: 李洛淵; born 20 December 1951) is a South Korean politician. He served as the prime minister of South Korea from 2017 to 2020. He is a member of the New Reform Party. Lee was the longest-serving prime minister since South Korea's constitution was changed in 1987.

Before becoming prime minister, Lee was the governor of South Jeolla Province from 2014 to 2017. This area is a strong support base for his party. He also worked as a journalist for over 20 years. He was a member of the National Assembly for four terms. President Moon Jae-in chose Lee as prime minister. Lee was known for speaking strongly with other party leaders. He was also good at talking with citizens.

PM Lee Nak-yon speaking at the University of Pennsylvania in 2023.

Early Life and Education

Lee Nak-yon was born on December 20, 1951. His hometown is Yeonggwang County in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. He is a descendant of a royal family from the Joseon Kingdom.

He studied law at Seoul National University. After graduating, he worked briefly in investment. For 21 years, from the late 1970s to 2000, he was a journalist. He wrote for the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper. From 1989 to 1993, he was a reporter in Tokyo, Japan. He reported on the new Japanese monarch, Akihito.

Starting in Politics

Lee began his political career in 2000. He had connections with former President Kim Dae-jung from his time as a journalist. After leaving the newspaper, he was elected to the National Assembly in 2000. He served there for four terms.

He also worked as a spokesperson for former President Roh Moo-hyun in 2002. President Roh even used a speech Lee wrote for his inauguration. Lee was one of only two lawmakers who voted against impeaching President Roh. This showed their close relationship. Lee also speaks fluent Japanese. He has strong ties with Japanese politicians.

He left the National Assembly in 2014 to become the governor of South Jeolla Province. He won with about 60% approval. As governor, he brought a lot of investment to the region. He also started a "100 won taxi" policy. This helped people in rural areas get to bus stops for a very low cost. He was known for his love of Makgeolli, a Korean rice wine. He used it to connect with his team, who called him "Manager Lee."

Becoming Prime Minister

PM Lee Nak-yon meets with Brazilian president Michel Temer in Brasília, 19 March 2018

On his first day in office, President Moon Jae-in nominated Lee as his first prime minister. Lee resigned from his governor position on the same day. He said he wanted to work with all political parties.

As prime minister, Lee urged North Korea to release prisoners. He also spoke against South Korea having nuclear weapons. He believed it would hurt efforts to make North Korea give up its nuclear arms. He thought it could also lead to a nuclear arms race.

Leading the Democratic Party

2020 Legislative Election

In the 2020 South Korean legislative election, Lee ran in the Jongno area. He won against Hwang Kyo-ahn, a leader from another party. Lee took on two important roles in his party. He co-chaired the election campaign. He also led a committee to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lee traveled across the country to support his party's candidates. He was seen as the main leader of the campaign. His party won many seats in the parliament. This meant they could pass laws without needing votes from other parties.

Becoming Party Leader

In July 2020, Lee announced he would run for leader of the Democratic Party. He talked about his experience in handling difficult situations. He said these skills were important for the time after COVID-19. In August 2020, he was elected as the party leader. He won more than half of the votes from all groups.

COVID-19 Response

As party leader, Lee restarted the COVID-19 committee. This committee supported the government's efforts to control the virus. It also helped prepare for the future after the pandemic. The party and government worked well together. They decided that COVID-19 relief money should go to those most affected. This was different from giving it to everyone.

Reforming the Party

Lee made changes to his party. He appointed new senior members. He also created new spokesperson roles for specific topics like youth and economy.

He also started an independent group to investigate possible wrongdoing by party members. This group would report to the party's ethics committee. This was a promise he made during his leadership campaign.

In October 2020, Lee suggested forming a "committee to reform the party." This committee would help improve how the party chooses candidates. It would also strengthen the party's ethics rules. The party's leaders approved this idea.

Task Forces

In September 2020, Lee launched seven special task forces. These groups focused on different issues. They covered topics from political reforms to youth affairs and workplace safety. Each group was led by an expert from the party.

In October, the party also created a "Korean Peninsula Task force." This group works to support peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula. It aims to continue these efforts no matter who leads in Japan or the United States.

2021 By-elections and Laws Passed

Lee led the party's campaign for local elections in April 2021. These included important elections in Seoul and Busan. The party faced big losses in these elections. This led to some criticism and questions about his future plans.

During his time as party leader, the National Assembly passed the budget for 2021 on time. This was the first time in six years. The Democratic Party also passed 422 laws. These included important reforms for government agencies. Lee said these changes were the biggest reforms since 1987.

2022 Presidential Campaign

On March 9, 2021, Lee resigned as party leader. This was exactly one year before the 2022 South Korean presidential election. His resignation meant he was running for president. He continued to help with the party's campaigns for the 2021 by-elections.

After the party lost many elections, Lee said he would take time to reflect. He later met with business leaders. He asked them to help solve youth unemployment. Many thought he was the favorite to win his party's nomination.

However, on October 10, 2021, Lee lost the primary election. He finished second to Lee Jae-myung. Lee Nak-yon's campaign questioned the results. But the party chairman said the results were final. On October 13, Lee formally accepted the outcome. He promised to help the party win the election.

Personal Life

Lee is married and has one son. His family comes from the Jeonju Yi clan. He is a descendant of Grand Prince Wanpung. This prince was the half-brother of King Taejo of Joseon, who founded the Joseon Kingdom. Lee is a member of the South Korean Presbyterian Church.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Lee Nak-yeon para niños