Lee Myung-bak
Who was Lee Myung-bak?
Former businessman who served as South Korea's president from 2008 to 2013, focusing on economic growth and closer ties with the United States.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Lee Myung-bak (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Lee Myung-bak was born on December 19, 1941, in Osaka, Japan, when Japan ruled Korea. After Korea's liberation and the Korean War, his family struggled financially, and Lee worked hard to attend Korea University, graduating with a business degree. He is married to Kim Yoon-ok and has three daughters and a son. He is a Christian and attends Somang Presbyterian Church in Seoul. In 2011, he received an honorary degree from Paris Diderot University in France.
Before politics, Lee had a strong career in the private sector. He climbed the ranks at Hyundai Engineering and Construction to become CEO. His time there helped build his image as a practical leader, earning him the nickname 'the Bulldozer' for his direct management style. This background shaped much of his political approach and policies later on.
Lee entered politics with the Saenuri Party, once known as the Grand National Party. He served as the mayor of Seoul from 2002 to 2006, during which he led the Cheonggyecheon Stream restoration, turning a concrete-covered area into a central public park. This project gained international recognition as an example of urban environmental renewal and raised his public profile.
In 2007, Lee won the presidential election by a large margin and became South Korea's tenth president in February 2008. His administration focused on economic growth with a policy called 'MB economics,' which promoted deregulation and infrastructure investment. Internationally, he strengthened ties with the U.S. and hosted the 2010 G-20 Seoul summit, enhancing South Korea's global standing. He took a stricter approach towards North Korea, stepping away from the 'Sunshine Policy' after provocative acts from Pyongyang.
After leaving office in February 2013, Lee faced significant legal issues. On March 22, 2018, he was arrested on charges of bribery, embezzlement, and tax evasion during his presidency. Prosecutors alleged he received bribes of about 11 billion won and funneled around 35 billion won into an illegal slush fund. Just before his arrest, Lee wrote on Facebook denying the charges. He was eventually convicted and sentenced to prison, like several other former South Korean presidents.
Before Fame
Lee Myung-bak grew up in extreme poverty after Japanese colonial rule ended and the Korean War left the country in ruins. His family moved to South Korea and faced financial struggles, and Lee reportedly sold street food as a young man to help support them. Despite these challenges, he got into Korea University, where he studied business administration and got involved in student politics, even being arrested during anti-government protests in the 1960s.
After graduating, Lee joined Hyundai Engineering and Construction. His ambition and managerial skills helped him quickly climb the corporate ladder. By his early thirties, he held senior leadership roles and eventually became CEO of one of South Korea's top construction companies. This rise in a rapidly industrializing South Korea gave Lee the business experience and public recognition that later built the foundation of his political career.
Key Achievements
- Served as the tenth president of South Korea from 2008 to 2013, overseeing significant economic policy reform and international engagement.
- Hosted the 2010 G-20 Seoul summit, marking the first time the summit was held in Asia and substantially raising South Korea's international profile.
- Led the restoration of the Cheonggyecheon Stream as mayor of Seoul, turning a polluted, covered waterway into a celebrated urban green space.
- Strengthened the South Korea–United States alliance and pursued an active foreign policy that earned him numerous international state honors from over a dozen countries.
- Served as CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction, helping to expand the company during South Korea's period of rapid industrial growth.
Did You Know?
- 01.Lee was born in Osaka, Japan, during Japanese colonial rule, making him one of the few South Korean presidents born outside the Korean peninsula.
- 02.He earned the nickname 'the Bulldozer' during his time as CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction for his assertive and relentless management approach.
- 03.As mayor of Seoul, he championed the restoration of the Cheonggyecheon Stream, uncovering a historically significant waterway that had been buried under a highway and a raised road for decades.
- 04.Lee received numerous foreign state honors, including the Knight of the Order of the Elephant from Denmark in 2011, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious orders of chivalry.
- 05.He posted a handwritten denial on Facebook just before his 2018 arrest, an unusually personal use of social media for a former head of state facing criminal charges.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Order of the Seraphim | — | — |
| Grand Order of Mugunghwa | — | — |
| Order of the Golden Eagle | 2009 | — |
| Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | — | — |
| Knight of the Order of the Elephant | 2011 | — |
| Order of Zayed | 2011 | — |
| Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | — | — |
| Order of the Sun of Peru | — | — |
| Star of the Republic of Indonesia | — | — |
| Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria | — | — |
| Order of the White Rose of Finland | — | — |