Seoul: Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo, a prominent scholar-turned-politician who played key roles in both academia and government, died Tuesday. He was 92.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee was educated at Seoul National University, Emory University, and Yale University, and established himself as a respected political scientist while serving as a professor at Seoul National University in the 1970s and 1980s. He entered public service under the Roh Tae-woo administration in 1988 as unification minister and later served as a presidential aide and ambassador to the United Kingdom.
During the Kim Young-sam administration, Lee was appointed South Korea's 28th prime minister in 1994. He also served as ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2000, helping support diplomatic efforts in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis.
Lee is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. His funeral is scheduled for Friday.