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Lee Hae-chan

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Lee Hae-chan
이해찬
Lee in 2019
Leader of the Democratic Party
In office
25 August 2018 – 29 August 2020
Preceded byChoo Mi-ae
Succeeded byLee Nak-yeon
36th Prime Minister of South Korea
In office
30 June 2004 – 15 March 2006
PresidentRoh Moo-hyun
Preceded byGoh Kun
Succeeded byHan Myeong-sook
Member of the National Assembly
In office
30 May 2012 – 29 May 2020
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byHong Seong-guk, Gang Jun-hyeon
ConstituencySejong
In office
30 May 1996 – 29 May 2008
Preceded byLee Hae-chan
Succeeded byKim Hui-chul
ConstituencyGwanak B (Seoul)
In office
30 May 1988 – 30 June 1995
Preceded byYim Churl-soon, Kim Soo-han
Succeeded byLee Hae-chan
ConstituencyGwanak B (Seoul)
38th Minister of Education
In office
3 March 1998 – 24 May 1999
PresidentKim Dae-jung
Preceded byLee Myung-hyun
Succeeded byKim Duk-choong
Personal details
Born (1952-07-10) 10 July 1952 (age 72)
Jangpyeong, South Chungcheong, South Korea
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materSeoul National University
Websitewww.hopechan.kr
Korean name
Hangul
이해찬
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Haechan
McCune–ReischauerI Haech'an

Lee Hae-chan (Korean이해찬; born 10 July 1952) is a South Korean politician who served as Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea from 2018 to 2020. He also served as Prime Minister of South Korea from 2004 to 2006.[1]

He served as Member of the National Assembly for the Gwanak District from 1988 to 1995 and 1996 to 2008. He served as Minister of Education under President Kim Dae-jung from 1998 to 1999. He presided over controversial education reforms including revamping the college entrance process and lowering the retirement age of teachers. He later served under President Roh Moo-hyun as Prime Minister of South Korea from July 2004 to March 2006.

On 27 August 2018, he was elected the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Political career

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Minister for Education

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Lee instituted reforms to the college admissions process. He was criticised[by whom?] for allegedly dramatically lowering the scholastic competence of the so-called Lee Hae-chan generation of then-high school students.

Prime Minister of South Korea

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He was nominated by President Roh Moo-hyun for the office of Prime Minister of South Korea on 28 July 2004, and was approved by the National Assembly on 29 July. He took office on 30 July.

His nomination as prime minister was met with some resistance due to his record as minister of education, which many considered a failure. After taking office, however, Lee has proved an able prime minister, being described by some as the most powerful prime minister South Korea had seen.[citation needed]

Golf-game scandal

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On 1 March 2006, the Korean Railroad Workers Union and Seoul Subway Union went on strike. The strike of railroad and subway unions at the same time proved to be a fatal blow to the nation's economic activity, especially Seoul area, where traffic heavily depended on subway, which was controlled by the two unions. Prime Minister Lee was supposed to command the situation and mediate the strike; however, he was playing golf at Busan area with local businessmen, and this caused outrage among Korean people against Lee for not taking care of the government and people.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 이해찬 (in Korean). Nate people. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
Preceded by
Yim Churl-soon
Kim Soo-han
Member of the National Assembly
from Gwanak B, Seoul

1988–2008
Succeeded by
New constituency Member of the National Assembly
from Sejong

2012–2020
Succeeded by
Hong Seong-guk
Gang Jun-hyeon
Political offices
Preceded by
Lee Myung-hyun
Minister of Education
1998–1999
Succeeded by
Kim Duk-choong
Preceded by Prime Minister of South Korea
2004–2006
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Democratic Party
2018–2020
Succeeded by