Senior Vice Chairman Lee Haechan of the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council in Critical Condition... Gwangju and Jeonnam Politicians Wish for His Recovery

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do: "Vice Chairman Lee Haechan, a Great Elder of Democracy"
Kang Gijung, Mayor of Gwangju: Earnest Hope, "Please Overcome This"
Lawmakers Shin Jeonghun, Park Jiweon, Jeong Jinwook and Others Express Wishes for Recovery

Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Youngrok earnestly wished for the health recovery of Lee Haechan, Senior Vice Chairman of the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, through Facebook on the 24th. Screenshot from Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Youngrok's Facebook.

As Lee Haechan, Senior Vice Chairman of the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, has fallen into critical condition after a sudden deterioration of his health during a business trip to Vietnam, politicians from Gwangju and Jeollanam-do have been posting messages on social media such as Facebook, wishing for his recovery.

On the 24th, Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, wrote on Facebook, "Last night, I was shocked to hear that Senior Vice Chairman Lee Haechan, a great elder of democratization, is in critical condition during his business trip to Vietnam. Vice Chairman Lee made significant contributions to the establishment of the democratic governments of Kim Daejung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, and Lee Jae-myung. Together with President Roh Moo-hyun, he laid the foundation for balanced national development."

He continued, "Many people are wishing for Senior Vice Chairman Lee's recovery. I sincerely pray that we will be able to greet him in good health."

Kang Gijung, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, also conveyed his earnest hope in writing, saying, "Prime Minister Lee Haechan, please overcome this."

Shin Jeonghun, a National Assembly member from the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Naju City and Hwasun County), wrote, "I have heard that former Prime Minister Lee Haechan is in critical condition. Everyone is united in wishing for his recovery."

Park Jiweon, a National Assembly member from the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Haenam County, Wando County, and Jindo County), said, "I hope he will return to Korea in good health and continue to provide his wisdom at the center of the nation. We need the insight and experience of former Prime Minister Lee Haechan," expressing his wishes for recovery.

Jeong Jinwook, a National Assembly member from the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Gwangju Dongnam-gap), said, "I sincerely wish for the recovery of (former) Prime Minister Lee Haechan. He is an outstanding leader who helped build today's Democratic Party. He recognized President Lee Jae-myung's true value early on and was at the forefront of supporting him," expressing his sorrow.

Meanwhile, Senior Vice Chairman Lee suddenly experienced shortness of breath during a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City to attend a Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council meeting the previous day. He was transported to the emergency room while receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After being diagnosed with a myocardial infarction, he underwent a stent procedure, but it is reported that he remains unconscious and is receiving ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) treatment.

Born in 1952, Senior Vice Chairman Lee is a native of Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Province, and graduated from Yongsan High School and the Department of Sociology at Seoul National University.

In 1988, he was first elected to the 13th National Assembly as a candidate of the Peace Democratic Party in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, and was subsequently elected five consecutive times in the same district. In the 19th general election, he was elected in Sejong Special Self-Governing City, and in the 20th general election, he was elected again in this region as an independent, making a total of seven terms as a National Assembly member.

He also served as the 38th Minister of Education under the late Kim Daejung administration, the 36th Prime Minister under the late Roh Moo-hyun administration, the 2nd Supreme Leader of the Democratic United Party, and the 3rd Party Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. He is currently serving as the 21st Senior Vice Chairman of the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council under the Lee Jae-myung administration.