(C) KBS

HO CHI MINH CITY/SEOUL — Lee Hae-chan, a towering figure in South Korean politics and a living witness to the nation's democratization, passed away on January 25, 2026. He was 74.

Lee, who was serving as the Executive Vice Chairperson of the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC), died of a myocardial infarction in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He was visiting the city to attend a regional committee meeting when he collapsed. Despite receiving emergency stent surgery, he never regained consciousness.

A Life Dedicated to Democracy Born in 1952, Lee’s political journey began in the 1970s as a student activist against the Yushin dictatorship of Park Chung-hee. He suffered significant hardships for his activism, including imprisonment during the National Democratic Student Federation (Mincheonghangnyeon) incident in 1974 and a 10-year sentence in the 1980 "Kim Dae-jung Rebellion Conspiracy" case. The torture he endured during these periods left him with lifelong physical aftereffects.

The "Kingmaker" and Strategic Leader Following the democratization of South Korea in 1987, Lee became a central power broker within the liberal Democratic Party. He served as the first Minister of Education under the Kim Dae-jung administration, where his radical reforms led to the coining of the term "Lee Hae-chan Generation."

He reached the pinnacle of his administrative career as Prime Minister during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. Former President Roh once described Lee as his "soulmate," praising his administrative competence. In later years, Lee played a crucial role in securing electoral victories for the party, including the landslide win in the 21st General Elections and the victory in the 22nd General Elections alongside current President Lee Jae-myung.

A Nation Mourns The political circle expressed deep condolences. Jung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, mourned him as "a giant of Korean democracy who endured bitter hardships for the sake of righteous history."

The South Korean government, in coordination with the Democratic Party, is expected to organize an official funeral to honor his decades of service to the nation.