Lee Hae-chan, Senior Vice Chair of the National Unification Advisory Council 

(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News)

 

[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Lee Hae-chan, Senior Vice Chair of South Korea’s National Unification Advisory Council (Democratic Peaceful Reunification Advisory Board, DPCAB), passed away on the 25th while receiving treatment in Vietnam. He was 73.

Lee collapsed on the 23rd during a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City to attend the DPCAB Asia-Pacific Regional Committee meeting and was urgently transported to a local hospital. He passed away at 2:48 p.m. local time on the 25th.

He had been diagnosed with a myocardial infarction and underwent a stent procedure performed by local medical staff, but did not recover.

The DPCAB stated that his family is currently coordinating with relevant authorities regarding repatriation and funeral arrangements.

A close political mentor to President Lee Jae-myung, Lee Hae-chan served seven terms as a lawmaker and held the office of Prime Minister. He was appointed Senior Vice Chair of the DPCAB in October last year.

Lee began his political career through student activism and pro-democracy movements during South Korea’s military regime. Following democratization, he was elected to the National Assembly, serving seven terms, and held key government positions, including Minister of Education under President Kim Dae-jung and Prime Minister under President Roh Moo-hyun.

In 2018, he became leader of the Democratic Party of Korea and led the party to a decisive victory in the 21st general election, acting as a central figure for progressive politicians. He is widely regarded in political circles as a representative of the generation of democratization activists following former Presidents Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung.

Upon learning of Lee’s critical condition, President Lee Jae-myung dispatched six-term senior political aide Jo Jung-sik to Vietnam. Other close Democratic Party lawmakers, including Lee Jae-jung, Kim Hyun, Lee Hae-sik, and Choi Min-hee, also traveled to the site, but Lee Hae-chan ultimately did not regain consciousness.

 

 

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