Ex-vice unification minister Lee dies at 59
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Lee Bong-jo
Lee Bong-jo, North Korea expert and former vice unification minister, died of liver cancer Saturday at age 59. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
An altar was set up at Samsung Medical Center for him. His funeral is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Lee graduated from Sogang University in 1980 with a degree in diplomacy. He began his civil service career at the Board of National Unification, the predecessor of the Ministry of Unification.
He held various posts — chief of unification policy, chief of policy coordination at the National Security Council (NSC) and director of the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU). He served as vice unification minister from 2004 to 2006.
Under the administration of former liberal President Kim Dae-jung, Lee played a leading role in arranging the 2000 Inter-Korean Summit as presidential secretary for unification.
After his retirement in 2008, he dedicated himself to civic engagements such as the Headquarters of the National Unification Movement of Young Korean Academy.
He joined the preparatory committee of Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo’s “New Politics Coalition” this year. He was Rep. Ahn’s “unification and security mentor” during the 2012 presidential election.