▲ A portrait of former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo is displayed at a funeral hall of Asan Medical Center in Seoul on May 5, 2026. Lee, a prominent scholar-turned-politician who played key roles in both academia and government, died the same day at age 92. (Yonhap)

unification ministry-late PM

Unification ministry praises late ex-PM Lee Hong-koo's contribution to inter-Korean reconciliation

SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry on Wednesday expressed condolences over the death of former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo, praising his contributions to inter-Korean reconciliation and unification efforts.

In a statement, the ministry said Lee, who passed away Tuesday at age 92, devoted himself to the development of South Korea's foreign, security and unification policies during his public service career.

"The principled approach and balanced insight he showed for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the development of inter-Korean relations continue to resonate today," the released statement said.

A scholar-turned-politician, Lee entered public service under the Roh Tae-woo administration in 1988 as unification minister and later served as a presidential aide and ambassador to Britain.

During the Kim Young-sam administration, he was appointed South Korea's 28th prime minister in 1994. He also served as ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2000, helping support diplomatic efforts in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis.

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