Rep. Lee Yong-sam Dies at 52
By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter
Rep. Lee Yong-sam of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has died of stomach cancer, his family said Wednesday. He was 52.
His death reduced the DP's total number of National Assembly seats to 86. The governing Grand National Party has 169 seats in the 299-member legislature.
The four-term lawmaker had served as chairman of the National Assembly Inter-Korean Relations Development Committee since June 2008.
He also worked as a prosecutor before being first elected to the Assembly in 1992.
Born in Hwacheon, Gwangwon Province, Lee worked at a factory since high school to support himself.
A funeral ceremony will be held at the Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday.