hankyoreh

An image of Lee Hee-ho

Lee Hee-ho, the wife of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and chair of the board of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center, passed away at Yonsei University Severance Hospital in Sinchon, in Seoul’s Seodaemun District, at 11:37 pm on June 10. The lifelong advocate of women’s rights and democracy died at the age of 97 years old.

“Some newspapers reported that Lee Hee-ho was battling liver cancer, but she was never diagnosed with cancer. Her life was brought to an end by an illness resulting from her advanced age,” said a spokesperson from the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center on Monday night.

Lee’s health had rapidly deteriorated this year, and she was hospitalized several times for colds and other conditions. In April, newspapers reported that she was in a critical condition, and when her eldest son and former lawmaker Kim Hong-il died on Apr. 20, her friends and family were unable to communicate the news to Lee.

Born in Seoul in 1922, Lee was the oldest daughter and the fourth child in a family of six sons and two daughters. In 1942, she enrolled in the department of liberal arts at Ewha College (today, Ewha Women’s University). After a compulsory graduation two years later, Lee went back to college in 1946, following Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. This time, she enrolled in the college of education at Seoul National University, from which she graduated in 1950. From 1954 to 1957, Lee pursued a Master’s degree in sociology at Lambuth University and Scarritt College for Christian Workers, both in the state of Tennessee. She served as a lecturer at Ewha Womans University, the head of general affairs of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), and the director of the Korean National Council of Women.

Lee was a feminist who was keenly aware of social issues, as well as a believer whose devout faith helped her endure trials and tribulations. After marrying the politician Kim Dae-jung at the age of 40, in 1962, Lee and her husband threw themselves into the struggle for democracy and human rights, with an indomitable will.

“In the light of my conscience, I don’t think I should be ashamed of the life I’ve lived. I would like to be remembered as an activist for women’s rights and for democracy,” Lee said in an interview with the Hankyoreh for a critical biography. When asked to describe living with Kim Dae-jung, she said, “We really respected each other’s personalities. We married late, and a lot of people were opposed to our marriage. But I think that meeting such a great person enabled me to live a life of great value and meaning.”

Lee is survived by her sons Kim Hong-eop, former lawmaker; Kim Hong-geol, permanent president of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation; and her daughters in law Yun Hye-ra, Sin Seon-ryeon, and Im Mi-gyeong.

The wake will be held over five days, and admission of mourners will begin at 2 pm on June 11. The wake will be held at Special Room No. 1 at the funeral parlor at Yonsei University Severance Hospital, the funeral procession at 6 am on June 14, and the funeral service at 7 am at Changcheon Church in Sinchon, which Lee attended for her entire life. Lee will be laid to rest beside her husband at Seoul National Cemetery, in the city’s Dongjak neighborhood.

By Kim Won-chul, staff reporter

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