Ex-South Korean prime minister Lee Hae-chan dies at 73
Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, new senior vice chairman of the presidential Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, speaks dung a ceremony at the council’s secretariat in Seoul, South Korea, 03 November 2025. Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan died 25 January 2026 while on a trip to Vietnam, a government advisory body said. He was 73. File. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
Jan. 25 (Asia Today) — Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan died Sunday while on a trip to Vietnam, a government advisory body said. He was 73.
The Secretariat of the National Unification Advisory Council said Lee died in Ho Chi Minh City at 2:48 p.m. local time.
The council said Lee was hospitalized Friday after his health deteriorated during the trip. He was diagnosed with a myocardial infarction and underwent a cardiac stent procedure but did not regain consciousness, it said.
Lee was born in 1952 in Cheongyang County, South Chungcheong Province. He served seven terms in the National Assembly and held senior roles in the Democratic Party, including leadership posts in 2012 and from 2019 to 2020.
He served as education minister under the Kim Dae-jung administration and later became prime minister under President Roh Moo-hyun, described as the first former activist to hold the post.
Lee also served as a standing adviser to President Lee Jae-myung’s election strategy committee during the 21st presidential election and was appointed senior vice chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council in October, the council said.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260126010011782