Singapore's first PM Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91

By Lee Min-hyung

Lee Kuan Yew

Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed the nation into a global financial hub, died on Monday. He was 91.

Lee had been in hospital with severe pneumonia since early February. A government statement said Lee "passed away peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital today at 3:18 a.m."

Born in 1923, Lee founded the People's Action Party (PAP) and became the nation's first prime minister in 1959. He led Singapore until 1990, but remained a member of parliament afterwards. Lee's son, Lee Hsien Loong, is the nation's third and current Prime Minister.

His son declared a period of national mourning from Monday to Sunday.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed condolences over Lee's death.

"The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the death of Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore," a U.N. statement said. "Lee Kuan Yew was a legendary figure in Asia, widely respected for his strong leadership and statesmanship."