Lee Beom-seok (October 20, 1900 – May 11, 1972), also known by his art name Cheolgi, was a Korean independence activist and the first prime minister of South Korea from 1948 to 1950. He also headed the Korean National Youth Association.

Early life

Lee Beom-seok on October 20, 1900 was born in Gyeongseong (now Seoul), Korean Empire. Lee's father was an officer. He was a descendant of Sejong the Great's son Gwangpyeong Daegun.

Career in exile

Lee and thousands of other Korean independence activists went into exile in the Republic of China after the violent suppression by the Japanese of the March 1st Movement. In 1919, he started studying at the Shinheung military academy, which was created to build an army to fight for independence. Soon after, Lee fought in the Battle of Cheongsanni, a six-day engagement in eastern Manchuria. In 1941, he served as a general and chief of staff in the Korean Liberation Army, the army of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. He was also instrumental in negotiating with the US Office of Strategic Services to create the Eagle Project, a joint mission with the Provisional Government to infiltrate occupied Korea during World War II. In 1945, Lee attempted to return to Korea but was forced to remain in exile in China.

Career after liberation of Korea

In 1946, he returned to Korea and helped found the Korean National Youth Association with Ahn Ho-sang. He was opposed to Kim Ku's South-North negotiations and allied himself with Lee Syng-man to establish a unitary government in South Korea. He served as the new country's first prime minister from July 31, 1948 to April 20, 1950. Following his term in office, Lee Beom-seok served as the Korean Ambassador to the Republic of China, and as Secretary of the Interior. He ran for the vice presidency in 1952, and again in 1956, but failed to win either election. Throughout the 1960s, he remained a staunch opposition leader to the ruling party. At the end of his career, Lee served as an adviser on the Board of National Unification and mentored Park Chung-Hee as an elder of the nation. On May 10, 1972, he was granted a honorary doctorate by the Taiwan Chinese Academy.

Death

He died on May 11, 1972, a day after receiving his honorary degree. He died of a myocardial infarction in the Seongmo hospital of Myeong-dong in Seoul. His state funeral was held in the Square of Namsan Mountain on May 17, and he was buried in Seoul National Cemetery.

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