Lee Hae-chan's unexpected and shocking death in Vietnam, Korea pays tribute to a democracy and liberal heavyweight


Lee Hae-chan, executive vice chair of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, attends his inauguration ceremony in November 2025. -- Photo: Yonhap via The Korea Herald/Asia News Network

SEOUL/HANOI (Korea Herald/ANN): Lee Hae-chan, a towering figure in South Korea’s liberal politics who rose from a jailed democracy activist to a dominant prime minister, master election strategist and seven-term lawmaker, died Sunday. He was 73.

Across successive Democratic Party administrations — from Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun to Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae Myung — Lee played a pivotal role as a strategist, organizer and unifying force within the liberal camp.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Aseanplus News

Cathay Pacific roughly doubles fuel surcharge on most routes
PREVIEW-Soccer-Taiwan cheering row overshadows China quarter-final at Asian Cup
Mainland Chinese see Taiwan positively, won’t retreat from US trade war: survey
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Thursday (March 12, 2026)
West Asia conflict: Singapore warns of rising electricity prices due to war in the very near future
The govt sounds the alert as Vietnam encourages remote work to save fuel
Mideast war risks dramatically deepening Myanmar crisis, says UN expert
Foreign investors threaten legal action against Vietnam over renewables, document says
Global crackdown targets South-East Asia's criminal scam networks
Emerging Markets - Asia stocks slip as oil surge fuels risk aversion; currencies sag

Others Also Read