Former Minister Lee Taebok, Who Devoted His Life to the Labor Movement, Passes Away

May 25, 2009, Former Minister Lee Tae-bok (right) during his tenure as Chairman of Human Earth

Former Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Taebok, who dedicated his life to labor and welfare movements, passed away from acute myocardial infarction around 3 p.m. on the 3rd, according to his family. He was 71 years old.

He was born in Boryeong, Chungnam, and graduated from Yesan Middle School, Seoul Seongdong High School, and the Law Department of Kookmin University (class of 1970). In July 1977, he founded the publishing company Kwangminsa (now Dongnyeok Publishing) and translated and published works such as "Theory of the Limited Class," "The Structure of Korean Labor Issues," and "History of Labor."

In 1981, he was detained in the Hakrim Incident and, after being interrogated by the notorious torturer police officer Lee Geunan, was sentenced to life imprisonment. In 1986, he was selected as a "Prisoner of Conscience" by Amnesty International, and was paroled in 1988 following a petition for release by Cardinal Kim Suhwan.

In October 1989, he founded the "Weekly Labor Newspaper," and ten years later, in July 1999, he established the "Labor Daily." In March 2001, he was appointed Senior Secretary for Welfare and Labor at the Blue House, and in January 2002, he became Minister of Health and Welfare, working to reduce the gap between irregular and regular workers.

His publications include the prison letter collection "At the Door of the World" (1992, Minmaek), "Labor Movement in Transition" (1995, Labor Newspaper), "Hope is Seen Only with Spirit" (2000, Dongnyeok), autobiography "Even If I Fall, I Do Not Stop" (2002, Cheongnyeonsa), "Social Welfare Policy Theory" (2006, Nanam), "Biography of Dosan Ahn Changho" (2006, Dongnyeok), "Finding a Way for the Republic of Korea" (2009, Hinduru), "Joseon's Superstar Tojeong Lee Jiham" (2011, Dongnyeok), and "Biography of Yun Bonggil" (2019, Dongnyeok).

He was awarded the Order of Service Merit, Cheongjo Medal in 2003. His survivors include his wife, labor activist Shim Bokja, and siblings Lee Hyangbok, Lee Yebok, Lee Geonbok (representative of Dongnyeok Publishing), Lee Hwabok, and Lee Youngbok (representative of Munhwa Distribution Books). The funeral is being held in Room 201 of the funeral hall at Korea University Guro Hospital in Seoul. After the funeral at 5 a.m. on the 7th, he is scheduled to be buried at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery in Gwangju.