Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan’s life ended abruptly in a Ho Chi Minh City hospital, felled by heart failure at 73. The PUAC confirmed the Sunday passing, painting a picture of a swift health spiral abroad.
Pre-trip flu woes escalated; a Friday return was aborted when respiratory distress hit at the airport. Ambulance-bound, cardiac arrest struck twice—once midway, once post-stent. Time of death: 2:48 PM local.
Lee’s resume shines: seven Assembly stints, PM role in Roh Moo-hyun era (2004-2006), and fresh PUAC vice chairmanship last fall. His voice on unification carried weight.
Alerted late Friday, President Yoon mobilized advisor Cho Jung-sik for Saturday arrival amid a dignitary influx at the hospital.
This event underscores risks of international jaunts for seniors. Lee’s journey—from grassroots lawmaker to premiership—mirrors South Korea’s democratic evolution. Tributes laud his tenacity; the government now coordinates repatriation, as the nation grapples with grief over a pivotal figure’s exit.