Lee Wan-koo

Lee was born in Cheongyang, Chungcheongnam-do. After graduating from Sungkyunkwan University, Lee worked as a public officer in the Economic Planning Board (current Ministry of Strategy and Finance) and later moved to the National Police Agency. From 1982 to 1984, he studied at Michigan State University in the United States and received an M. A. in Criminal Justice. From 1986 to 1989, Lee served as consul at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles, United States.

In 1996, Lee entered into politics. He joined the New Korea Party(current Saenuri Party) and in the 1996 election, he was elected as a member of the National Assembly. In the 2006 election, he was elected as a governor of Chungcheongnam-do. He resigned as governor on 23 December 2009.

Lee was diagnosed with blood cancer. After recovering, he was re-elected as a member of the National Assembly at the 2013 by-election. In 2014, he served as Floor Leader of the Saenuri Party.

On 23 January 2015, President Park Geun-hye named Lee as Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea. A three-term parliamentarian and former governor of South Chungcheong Province, Lee was confirmed by the National Assembly as Prime Minister on 16 February 2015.[1] The National Assembly voted with 148 Yes, 128 No, and 5 Abstain. 155 Saenuri, 124 NPAD and 2 Independents participated in the vote.

On 20 April 2015, Lee offered to resign as Prime Minister, amid allegations of bribery.[2][3] He formally stepped down on 27 April 2015, apologizing over a scandal in which he was accused of taking an illegal cash gift from a businessman.[4] President Park Geun-hye accepted Lee's resignation.[4]

In 2016 he was convicted of taking illegal funds.[5]