Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Ex-PM Yoo Dies at 92
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff reporter
Yoo Chang-soon a former prime minister and head of the Federation of Korea Industries (FKI) has passed away, his family said Thursday. He was 92.
Yoo also served in key economic posts, such as governor of the Bank of Korea and commerce minister under the Park Chung-hee government in the 1960s, contributing to the nation's economic takeoff from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War.
He quit his public post due to a row with Park over currency issues, but, after the latter was assassinated, he became the CEO of the Korea International Trade Association in 1981.
The following year, he was named the country's 15th prime minister.
In 1989, he became the chairman of Honam Petrochemical Corp. and headed the FKI until 1993.
He also worked with the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-young to help the country win the right to host the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Born in 1918 in Anju, South Pyeongan Province, now part of North Korea, Yoo graduated from Hastings College in Nebraska.