Lee Hee-ho, then first lady of South Korea, delivers a keynote speech during the U.N. Special Session on Children in this May 2002, file photo. Korea Times file
By Park Ji-won, Kim Yoo-chul
Lee Hee-ho, former President Kim Dae-jung's widow and a long-time fighter for women's rights in South Korea died Tuesday. She was 97.
She died of old age at the Severance Hospital at 11:37 p.m., Monday (June 10), according to the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center. She had been hospitalized due to a worsening health condition since March 20.
Born to a wealthy medical doctor's family in 1922 under Japanese colonial rule, the former first lady was one of the few Korean women who were educated at an advanced educational institute. Specifically, she graduated from Seoul National University, and later earned a master's degree at Scarritt College in the United States in sociology, the peace center said.
After returning from the U.S. in 1958, she was most notable for being among the "first generation of women's rights activists" devoting herself to the movement for democracy in South Korea and to gain equality for women here.
At age 39, Lee married the late President Kim. The two fought against military rule and the authoritarian regimes under dictators Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan. Their efforts significantly helped advance the country's democracy. She was a key advocate and active supporter of Kim as he suffered severe oppression during military rule. Lee was one of the hidden forces behind Kim achieving the top post.
