Lee Kwang-jae (politician)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lee Kwang-jae
이광재
Governor of Gangwon
In office
1 July 2010 – 27 January 2011
Suspended: 1 July 2010 – 2 September 2010
Preceded byKim Jin-sun
Succeeded byKang Ki-chang (acting)
Choi Moon-soon
Member of the National Assembly
In office
30 May 2020 – 29 April 2022
Preceded byKim Ki-sun
ConstituencyWonju 1st
In office
30 May 2004 – 28 April 2010
Preceded byKim Yong-hak
Succeeded byChoi Jong-won
ConstituencyTaebaek-Yeongwol-Pyeongchang-Jeongseon
Personal details
Born (1965-02-28) 28 February 1965 (age 59)
Cheonbyeon-ri,
Gangwon, South Korea
CitizenshipSouth Korean
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLee Jung-sook
Children2
Parent(s)Lee Kang-won (father)
Yeon Myung-soon (mother)
RelativesLee Kang-choon (aunt)
Alma materYonsei University
OccupationActivist, labourer, politician

Lee Kwang-jae (

Governor of Gangwon from 2010 to 2011. He has been the Member of the National Assembly for Wonju 1st constituency since 2020 and was previously MP for Taebaek-Yeongwol-Pyeongchang-Jeongseon
from 2004 to 2010.

Born in Pyeongchang, Lee studied chemical engineering and law at Yonsei University. He worked as a secretary to Roh Moo-hyun before being elected to the National Assembly at the 2004 election. He contested for Gangwon governorship at the 2010 elections and defeated Yi Kye-jin, making him as the first non-conservative governor. His term was, however, only up to 7 months after he was found guilty of corruption allegations.

Despite being barred from running for any elections for 10 years, Lee was pardoned by the President Moon Jae-in on 30 December 2019, and thus paved a way for him to make a comeback. He then contested for Wonju 1st constituency at the 2020 election, where he successfully defeated the former Deputy Governor of Jeju Park Jung-ha. Since then, he has been widely considered as a potential candidate for the 2022 presidential election.

Early life

Lee Kwang-jae was born in Cheonbyeon-ri,

Gangwon in 1965, as the eldest (and the only one) son and the 2nd child in a family of 7 children.[1][2][3] His father, Lee Kang-won,[4] was a civil servant,[2] whereas his mother, Yeon Myung-soon, was a miller.[1][3] His aunt, Lee Kang-choon, was split with his father during the Korean War, and currently resides in Pyongyang area, North Korea.[3]

He attended 2 primary schools — Pyeongchang Primary School and Yemi Primary School, and 3 secondary schools — Hamback Secondary School, Pyeongchang Secondary School and Wonju Secondary School.[1][2][5] Initially, he entered Hamback Secondary School, but then transferred to Pyeongchang Secondary School, and then to Wonju Secondary School as advised by his father "to go to urban areas".[1][2][5] During that time, Wonju was the centre of anti-dictatorship activities; he befriended a son of Jang Hwa-soon, the younger brother of Jang Il-soon.[1][5] He was politically inspired by Jang Il-soon.[1][5]

Lee attended Wonju High School in 1980, but shortly after, a massive protest came in Gwangju after the coup d'état of Chun Doo-hwan.[1] Although he was willing to go to Gwangju, he was not dare as he was the eldest and the only one son in his family.[1][3] Instead, he took a trip with his friends before applying to Yonsei University in 1983, where he studied chemical engineering and obtained a bachelor's degree in law.[1][2][5][3] He chose science stream to get rid of any kind of political activities, although he subsequently became the editor of A Million Student, an anti-government student magazine of the university, in 1985.[1][2][5][3] Regarding this time, he later described that he was angry at plain clothes police officers who acted violently at a library.[3]

As he was wanted by the magazine activities, Lee moved to Cheonan and worked as a labourer in 1986.[1] He soon went down to Busan, where he worked at a foundry.[1] He was arrested for breaching the National Security Act on 18 November 1987.[6] On 11 March 1988, he was sentenced to 2 years in prison and 3 years probation, but was pardoned on 21 December.[6]

Political career

Lee met Roh Moo-hyun, who was later elected the President, in Busan in 1987.[1][7] When Roh was elected to the National Assembly in 1988, Lee became his secretary; he was the youngest secretary to an MP during that time.[1][5][3][7] Along with Ahn Hee-jung, both were called "Left HJ & Right KJ (좌희정 우광재)".[1][3][7]

He worked closer to Cho Soon during the 1995 local elections; Cho was elected the Mayor of Seoul.[5] After Roh was elected the President in 2002, Lee was appointed the Chief of the Office of the State of Affairs, but resigned after eight months following the criticisms for being "too influential".[8][9] He contested for Taebaek-Yeongwol-Pyeongchang-Jeongseon at the 2004 election and was elected.[10] Then, he was appointed one of the deputy parliamentary leaders of the Uri Party.[11] He also organised the Parliamentary Politics Research Centre, along with 11 other MPs.[12]

Under the Roh government, Lee was a person putting efforts to hold the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, where he was born.[13] As a part of his efforts, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KOC) confirmed Pyeongchang as the South Korean candidate city for the 2014 Winter Olympics.[13] Despite his contributions, Pyeongchang lost to Sochi, Russia, with a margin of 4 votes.[14] His birthplace could held the games in 2018.

The

Grand National Party (GNP) presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak was elected the new president in 2007 amid the low popularity of the Roh government.[15] Lee Kwang-jae, however, was re-elected to his constituency at the 2008 election.[16] Nevertheless, on 26 March 2009, he was detained over the allegations of receiving 160,000,000 won (≒ ￡100,940) from Park Yeon-cha and Jung Dae-geun.[7][17][18] He announced his resignation as an MP, as well as retirement from politics.[7][17][18] The Democratic Party dissuaded him to retract the decision.[19]

Governor of Gangwon (2010-2011)

Lee Kwang-jae visiting Gangneung Central Market on 24 January 2011

On 22 April 2010, Lee announced his intention to run for the

Democratic Labour Party (DLP) to fight against the then ruling GNP candidate Yi Kye-jin.[23]

Initially, various polls showed that Lee came far behind to Yi.[24] However, the final result ended up with an upset victory,[2][24] where Lee obtained 54.36% and defeated Yi.[25] Lee also became the first non-conservative governor of the conservative stronghold province.[26] The GNP's analyses have suggested that senses of alienation among people, lack of "competent" candidates, and Lee's caring towards people, provoked the surprise outcome.[27]

Court trial and removal

While he was running for and elected at the election, his corruption cases were on trial, where the 2nd trial was ongoing.[2][24][28] At the first trial, he was sentenced 8 months in prison, 2 years probation, and 148,140,000 won (≒ ￡94,113) in compensation, which was equivalent to void the election.[2][28]

On 11 June 2010, few weeks before the inauguration, the Seoul High Court sentenced him to 6 months in prison, 1 year probation and 114,170,000 won (≒ ￡72,532) in compensation,[29] and therefore he took an oath while being suspended from conducting duties.[30] He filed a constitutional appeal, and the Constitutional Court ordered him to return to the office on 2 September.[31]

Nevertheless, on 27 January 2011, the Supreme Court confirmed the original verdict of the 2nd trial, and Lee was removed from his office.[32][33] He was also barred from running for any elections for 10 years.[32] Critics, including the Democratic Party, argued that he was victimised by the Lee Myung-bak government.[34][35][36][37] The annulment of the election provoked the by-election in April, where Choi Moon-soon was elected.[37]

Post-political life (2011-2019)

Following the removal, Lee headed to Beijing, China in July 2011.[1] He was appointed a visiting professor of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University and served until 2013.[1] During this time, he interviewed various government officials and scholars in China; he wrote a book titled Asking China: Superpower DNA of the 21st Century in 2012 based on the experiences.[1][3][38]

After returning to South Korea, Lee became the assistant director of Future Consensus Institute in 2016, and was promoted to the Director in 2017.[1] Prior to the Independence Movement Day 2019, there was an attempt to pardon him, but never happened as politicians were excluded by the Ministry of Justice.[39]

Comeback (2019-)

On 30 December 2019, Lee was given a special amnesty by the President

United Future Party (UFP) candidate Park Jung-ha, the former Spokesperson of the Office of the President and the former Deputy Governor of Jeju.[44][45]

Lee was successful in his bid to return to parliament, winning a four-year term in the National Assembly.[46] He, therefore, made a political comeback after 9 years.[47]

2022 presidential election

On 11 May 2021, Lee said that he is currently preparing for the

Jeolla areas to gradually introduce a tax policy.[48][49][50][51] His bid was welcomed by another MPs from Gangwon i.e. Woo Sang-ho, Song Ki-hun, Heo Young, and so on.[48][49][51]

On 27 May, Lee made an official announcement to run for the presidential election at KBIZ-Korea Federation of SMEs headquarter in Yeouido.[52][53][54] He said that the country needs a political revolution with a change of era, generation and "players".[52][53][54] His slogan is "Republic of Korea, the first country meeting the world's future".[52][53][54]

Controversies

Default of national service

In 1985, Lee was enlisted for

forefinger.[55][56][57] During an interview with The Dong-a Ilbo in 2003, Lee explained that his forefinger was cut while using a press machine at a factory in Bupyeong.[56][58] In the end of the year, he said at the National Assembly Proceeding Hall that the incident occurred during the university life.[56][58]

The issue came to a controversy when he published his autobiography titled Dream of a Spring Water prior to the 2004 election, where he described that he purposely cut his finger to write in blood on a Taegukgi after he saw self-immolation of students in 1986.[57] Oh Seung-jae, the Deputy Spokesperson of the GNP, suggested a possibility the incident was "on purpose to default national service", citing Lee's autobiography.[59] As the issue became controversial, the GNP urged him to tell the truth.[60] Kim Hyong-o, a GNP MP, compared Lee to An Jung-geun, saying, "No one doubt a patriotism for An's short finger. At least he left a finger to use a gun when the country is under crisis."[61]

Lee explained, "It's meaningless to talk about my finger without considering the year of 1986, when I could be tortured if I was enlisted. If I mentioned the names of my comrades to avoid tortures, they would be victimised. I couldn't even accept it."[62] He also clarified that the event was "on purpose" to write in blood on a Taegukgi to "not betray his colleagues".[62] His wife, Lee Jung-sook, urged people to stop talking about the matter.[63]

Regional remarks

On 31 March 2021, prior to the 2021 by-elections, Lee provoked a controversy for his remarks.[64][65] He said, "Daegu has the weakest economy in Korea despite about 40 years under the President Park Chung Hee, Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. Why? It's because they always vote based on their political parties, not the actual people."[64][65] He also added, "They vote politicians who are just busy to become candidates, not those who really work for people's livelihoods."[64][65]

The People Power Party (PPP) criticised him for "using anti-patriotic regional card".[64] Kwon Young-jin, the Mayor of Daegu, harshly condemned the remarks, saying, "Don't ever think to come here without any sincere apology."[66]

The Democratic Party faced crushing defeats at the by-elections, where it lost Seoul and Busan mayorship to the PPP.[67]

Personal life

Lee was married to Lee Jung-sook; they have a daughter and a son.[3] When Lee Kwang-jae was removed from the Gangwon governorship, speculations suggested that Lee Jung-sook might run for the by-election,[68] but she refused to do so.[69]

He is a

Buddhist.[70]

Works

Books

Film

Election results

General elections

Year Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks
2004 Taebaek-Yeongwol-Pyeongchang-Jeongseon Uri 39,061 (46.66%) Won
2008 Taebaek-Yeongwol-Pyeongchang-Jeongseon UDP 42,321 (54.57%) Won
2020 Wonju 1st Democratic 45,224 (48.56%) Won

Local elections

Governor of Gangwon

Year Political party Votes (%) Remarks
2010 Democratic 388,443 (54.36%) Won

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "[레이더P] 이광재, 10년 야인 거쳐 부활한 노무현의 그림자". 14 February 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "이광재 강원지사 당선자는 누구". 3 June 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "[Who Is ?] 이광재 더불어민주당 강원 선거대책위원장". 18 March 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  4. ^ "이광재 후보 부친 폭행 당해 중상". 30 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "이광재 그는 누구인가?". 20 April 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b "[후보 병역.전과 분석]-강원". 1 April 2004. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e "檢의 칼끝 10여차례… '386-親盧 상징' 이광재 끝내 몰락". 27 March 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  8. ^ "이광재 청와대 국정상황실장 사표 제출 수리[성장경]". 18 October 2003. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  9. ^ "이광재 국정상황실장 사표 제출". 18 October 2003. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  10. ^ "당선자 열린우리당 이광재 후보". 15 April 2004. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  11. ^ "열린우리당, 원내부대표에 이광재씨 등 임명". 24 May 2004. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  12. ^ "출범 의정연구센터 산파역 이광재 의원". 17 August 2004. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  13. ^ a b "이광재의 '힘'… 평창이 뜬다". 30 January 2005. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Sochi Elected as Host City of XXII Olympic Winter Games". 4 July 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  15. ^ "이명박 당선 확정". 19 December 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  16. ^ "[18대 국회의원 당선자 의정설계] 8.이광재(민주당)". 26 May 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  17. ^ a b "[사설] 구속되면서 정계은퇴 선언한 이광재 의원". 27 March 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  18. ^ a b "이광재 의원 구속 수감… "여의도 다시 안 돌아간다"". 27 March 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  19. ^ "이광재 의원 "정계 은퇴" 선언/ 민주 "떠나지 말고 끝까지 싸워야"". 27 March 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  20. ^ "이광재 의원 도지사 출마 선언". 22 April 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  21. ^ "이광재 국회의원, 강원도지사 출마 공식선언". 22 April 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  22. ^ "인천 송영길·강원 이광재 민주당 단체장 후보 확정". 25 April 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  23. ^ "강원지사 야권후보 이광재로 단일화… "9회말 역전극 펴겠다"". 26 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  24. ^ a b c "이광재, 보수 아성 강원도를 어떻게 뒤집었나?". 3 June 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  25. ^ "[6.2지방선거]민심, 심판론 선택...민주 7 한 6 선진 1 무소속 2곳 승리". 3 June 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  26. ^ "강원지사·교육감 공조 '새바람'". 3 June 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  27. ^ ""野道 강원이여, 다시 돌아와주오" 한나라당 구애가". 2 August 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  28. ^ a b "도지사 당선 이광재, 항소심 결과는… 1심 확정 땐 당선 취소". 3 June 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  29. ^ "이광재 항소심 징역형…도지사 직무정지(종합)". 11 June 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  30. ^ "이광재 강원도지사 '취임'..'직무정지'(종합)". 1 July 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  31. ^ "[종합]이광재, 도지사 복귀…헌법소원 헌법 불합치". 2 September 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  32. ^ a b "이광재 강원지사직 상실…징역형 확정(종합)". 27 January 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  33. ^ "이광재 도지사직 상실…강원도 정·관가 '격랑'". 27 January 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  34. ^ "민주, 이광재·서갑원 원심 확정에 '전 정권 탄압'". 27 January 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  35. ^ "이광재·서갑원 직위 상실…與"판결 존중" vs 野 "전 정권탄압"". 27 January 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  36. ^ "[U포터] 법원의 '이광재 죽이기'와 '박진 살리기'". 28 January 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  37. ^ a b "'감자바우' 최문순, '카멜레온' 엄기영 눌렀다". 28 April 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  38. ^ "[집중분석 와이드 인터뷰] 이광재가 말하는 문재인·안희정의 대권 경쟁력". 17 November 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  39. ^ "3·1절 특사, 정치인 빠지고 세월호 유가족은 포함". 23 February 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  40. ^ "文대통령, 정치적 부담 안고 이광재 사면…정치사범 포함 배경은". 30 December 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  41. ^ "'9만 5000달러' 이광재 전 지사 사면... 청 "부패범죄로 판단 안했다"". 30 December 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  42. ^ "[4·15 총선 D-54]이광재 선대위원장 "1 대 7로 기울어진 운동장 바로잡겠다"". 21 February 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  43. ^ "이광재, 9년 공백 깨고 원주갑 출마…"강원에 운명 맡기겠다"(종합)". 2 March 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  44. ^ "[강원 원주갑]이광재 등판에 박정하 '선수교체'로 맞선 통합당". 31 March 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  45. ^ "'원조 친노' 이광재 부활 주목…野 'MB의 입' 박정하로 저격". 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  46. ^ "민주당 이광재(원주갑)·송기헌(원주을) 당선". 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  47. ^ "'9년만의 복귀' 이광재, 강원도 3선의원으로 국회 입성". 18 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  48. ^ a b c "이광재 "세종의 리더십에서 용기 얻어" 대선 도전 공식화". 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  49. ^ a b c "'친문' 이광재, 대선 출마 질문에 "궤도 진입 중"…이달 말 선언 예고". 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  50. ^ a b "이광재 의원, "궤도에 진입 중" 사실상 대선 출마 선언". 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  51. ^ a b c "이광재 이달말 대선 출마 선언". 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  52. ^ a b c "'원조친노' 이광재, 대선 출마 선언…"대한민국 운명 바꿀 것"". 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  53. ^ a b c "이광재 대선 출마선언 "시대·선수·세대교체…광재형으로 불리면 영광"". 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  54. ^ a b c "'盧의 오른팔' 이광재, '미래' 기치로 대권도전…"한국을 G3로"". 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  55. ^ "이광재 손가락 절단, 병역면제 상황". 17 May 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  56. ^ a b c "[사설]투사 金희선·실세 李광재의 진실게임". 18 May 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  57. ^ a b "이광재, 손가락 그때 왜 잘랐나". 18 May 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  58. ^ a b "[사설] 이광재의원 말바꾸기가 문제다". 21 May 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  59. ^ "한 "이광재 단지는 병역기피용 의혹"". 22 May 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  60. ^ "한나라당 "이광재, 386을 변명의 도구로 삼았다"". 22 May 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  61. ^ "김형오의원 "이광재 단지에선 애국심 없다"". 6 June 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  62. ^ a b "이광재의원 "병역기피 아닌 혈서쓰려고 단지"". 19 May 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  63. ^ "<이광재 부인 "단지얘기는 이제 그만">". 19 May 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  64. ^ a b c d "이광재 "대구, 당 보고 대통령 뽑아 경제 꼴찌" 논란". 31 March 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  65. ^ a b c "이광재 "당보고 뽑아 대구 경제 꼴찌·'부산의 아들' 대통령"···'지역감정' 자극 우려". 31 March 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  66. ^ "권영진 "이광재, 대구에 발 들여놓을 생각 마"". 1 April 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  67. ^ "與, 재보선 참패에 대권판도 격동…제3후보론 동력 상실". 8 April 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  68. ^ "이광재 전 지사 부인 이정숙씨 출마설 '솔솔'". 28 January 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  69. ^ "이광재 전 지사 부인 이정숙씨 도지사 `불출마`". 22 February 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  70. ^ "[이광재의 '미래대담'⑦ 계호 스님] 콩 한 알로 3천명이 먹고도 남는 이유? 배려와 양보 때문". 23 April 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  71. ^ "이광재 독서록". 2 January 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  72. ^ "같은 강물에 발을 두 번 담글 수 없다". 22 February 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  73. ^ "중국에게 묻다". 20 July 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  74. ^ "대한민국 어디로 가야 하는가". 9 June 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  75. ^ "노무현이 옳았다". 2 December 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2021.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by Member of the National Assembly
for Taebaek-Yeongwol-Pyeongchang-Jeongseon
2004–2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the National Assembly
for Wonju 1st
2020- 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Governor of Gangwon

2010–2011 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lee_Kwang-jae_(politician)&oldid=1212686390"