Lee Ki-poong

Lee Ki-poong [also spelled as Yi Ki-bong or Lee Gi-bung] (20 December 1896 – 28 April 1960) was a South Korean politician, Vice Presidential candidate, Minister of Defense, Speaker of the Assembly and Mayor of Seoul.

Biography

Early life and education As a member of the Jeonju Yi clan, Lee had a claim of nobility; however, he and his family found themselves impoverished due to the Japanese occupation of Korea. Because of the occupation, Lee had to save enough currency to travel to the United States. He struggled for about six years after high school, but eventually made it and entered the now-defunct Tabor College in 1924. Seeing that his funds were rapidly decreasing, Lee traveled to New York seeking menial jobs; during his time in New York, Lee met Syngman Rhee. Disaffected by his conditions in 1935, Lee moved home to find his parents in poor health. Back in Korea, Lee met Park Maria, who was studying at missionary schools.

Political career Lee started his journey in earnest by becoming Mayor of Seoul from June 1949 to May 1951 then serving as leader of the Liberal Party from 1954 to 1960 during which he was also serving as Speaker of the assembly. As a patron of sports Lee was elected to be President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee in 1952, later on he was co-opted onto the IOC in June 1955 and served in this capacity until his assassination. By the 1956 election, Lee became the most prominent member of the Liberal Party, and was considered one of Rhee's closest and most powerful right-hand men,

As Minister of Defense Lee started his service towards Korea by becoming Minister of National Defense from May 1951 to March 1952 (during which Lee presented a proposal to enhance the capabilities of the South Korean army). On August 10, 1951, as then Defense Minister he condemned the Geochang massacre which was perpetrated by Korean soldiers and vowed severe punishment to those responsible. Lee, in being put in the position of MoNT was a firm supporter of President Syngman Rhee though as time had passed, Rhee had grown weary of Lee, which led him to dismiss him from the position of Defense Minister on March 29, 1952.

The 1960 Election Lee was elected Vice President of South Korea in the controversial March 1960 presidential election. In said election Rhee had sought his fourth term as President of South Korea. Both won by a very wide margin, and the election was widely condemned in South Korea for election rigging amid growing public opposition to Rhee's corrupt and authoritarian rule, including the deployment of Police forces to stem the potential anger of the citizenry. As a result, the April Revolution took place in mid-April 1960, which resulted in Rhee resigning on April 27, 1960, and fleeing the country. Lee resigned before taking office as vice president elect, but the results of the March election were invalidated due to alleged election fraud also Lee had been presumed to be missing from the night of April 25. annex of Rhee's Seoul mansion, Lee and his family were shot and killed by his eldest son, Army 2nd Lieutenant Lee Kang-seok (adopted by Syngman Rhee in 1956 or 1958), who remarked "Let's apologize through death.",