The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC), a presidential consultative body, said, "The senior vice chairperson died at 2:48 p.m. local time," adding it is currently discussing arrangements for transporting his body to Seoul and funeral services with his family and relevant authorities.
Just a day after arriving in Ho Chi Minh City to attend a PUAC meeting, Lee was rushed to a hospital after collapsing around noon on Saturday.
He had reportedly complained of flu-like symptoms before his departure from Seoul. As his condition suddenly worsened, he planned to cut his trip short and return home, but collapsed before he could do so. He underwent a stent insertion procedure and remained unconscious in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Senior presidential aide Cho Jung-sik and several ruling party lawmakers hurriedly flew to the Southeast Asian country shortly after his collapse to support Lee and arrange his return to Seoul, but he succumbed to his illness after a daylong battle.
Since beginning his political career at the age 36 in 1988, the seven-term lawmaker held several key ministerial positions including education minister in 1998 under the late President Kim Dae-jung and prime minister in 2004 under the late President Roh Moo-hyun, overseeing the relocation of the administrative capital to Sejong to promote balanced regional development.
Throughout his career, the seasoned lawmaker held numerous roles in liberal parties and served as leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) from 2018 to 2020 during the Moon Jae-in administration.
Having retired from politics in 2020, Lee, widely regarded as an expert in political strategies, remained a steady and influential hand within the liberal camp throughout his final years.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
