The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
  • Economic Essay Contest
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Tue, January 26, 2021 | 21:04
Obituaries
The Korea Times and former first lady Lee Hee-ho
Posted : 2019-06-11 17:19
Updated : 2019-06-11 17:29
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
President Kim Dae-jung reads a copy of The Korea Times at Cheong Wa Dae in 1998. Korea Times file
President Kim Dae-jung reads a copy of The Korea Times at Cheong Wa Dae in 1998. Korea Times file

By Park Ji-won

Lee Hee-ho, the late first lady and women's rights activist, and her husband the late former President Kim Dae-jung had a special attachment to The Korea Times.

It is well-known that Lee and Kim were loyal readers of The Korea Times especially when the authoritarian governments screened local newspapers written in Korean and ordered them to rewrite stories in favor of the regimes. The Korea Times, however, was able to avoid the surveillance as it was written in a foreign language, which led the couple to read the oldest English daily in South Korea for its more accurate and fairer information about Korean politics during Kim's hospital detention, for example.

Lee, who clipped English newspapers for Kim when he was in prison and in the hospital, delivered The Korea Times upon Kim's secret request to his confined room when he was detained, showing their attachment to the paper.

A New York Times article that interviewed Kim right after his 1998 inauguration states that "Kim learned English from an American Peace Corps volunteer and by tutoring himself, puzzling over the English-language daily Korea Times with a dictionary."

Kim made a special contribution to The Korea Times for its edition published on Nov. 5 in 1998 to mark the paper's 48th anniversary. This was the first time an incumbent president made a contribution to a local newspaper in Korean history. Lee also made a special contribution to the paper published on Nov. 2, 2001.

She died of old age at Severance Hospital at 11:37 p.m., June 10. She had been hospitalized due to her worsening health since March 20.
President Kim Dae-jung reads a copy of The Korea Times at Cheong Wa Dae in 1998. Korea Times file
Emailjwpark@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
Pyongyang to deliver condolence message, flowers for late first lady's funeral
The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will deliver a condolence message and flowers to South Korea at the border village of Panmunjom on Wednesday over the death of former ...
Lee Hee-ho: Woman stood for Kim Dae-jung
In 1958, when she returned to Korea after four years of study in the United States, Lee Hee-ho pledged not to marry. Women today may be able to relate to her decision, but back the...
Former President Kim Dae-jung's wife, political partner dies
Lee Hee-ho, former President Kim Dae-jung's widow and a long-time fighter for women's rights in South Korea died Tuesday. She was 97. ...









 
WooriBank
 
  • Police demand $100,000 from parents for daycare CCTV access
  • Salaried foreign workers should file year-end tax settlements by February
  • Court allows imports of life-size sex dolls
  • From 'America first' to 'Earth first'
  • SK, Geely to form ties on hydrogen business
  • Korean adoptees demand apology from President Moon
  • New virus cases over 400 again on large-scale cluster infection
  • ROK, US should reinforce alliance and partnership
  • Households' food expenses surge amid pandemic
  • Korea aims to vaccinate 70% of population by September
  • Rapper Iron found dead Rapper Iron found dead
  • Hyun Bin thanks Son Ye-jin after winning grand prize at 2020 APAN Star Awards Hyun Bin thanks Son Ye-jin after winning grand prize at 2020 APAN Star Awards
  • Is Konglish dealing blow to K-pop's reputation? Is Konglish dealing blow to K-pop's reputation?
  • K-pop female artists heat up competition in chart race with comebacks this month K-pop female artists heat up competition in chart race with comebacks this month
  • EXO's D.O. discharged from military service EXO's D.O. discharged from military service
DARKROOM
  • Biden takes office as 46th president

    Biden takes office as 46th president

  • Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

    Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

  • Second Trump impeachment

    Second Trump impeachment

  • Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

    Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

  • Our children deserve better (Part 2)

    Our children deserve better (Part 2)

WooriBank
  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright