A prominent figure in South Korea’s left-leaning Democratic Party, Lee is known for his populist style and compelling life story. Born into poverty as the fifth of seven children, he dropped out of school in his early teens to work and support his family in Seongnam, a satellite city of Seoul. Despite lacking formal education, he later earned middle and high school diplomas through self-study while working.
In 1982, Lee was admitted to Chung-Ang University in Seoul to study law, passing the bar exam four years later. As a lawyer, he became a staunch advocate for underprivileged citizens, representing victims of industrial accidents and residents displaced by urban redevelopment projects.
Lee’s political career began in earnest in 2006 with an unsuccessful bid for Seongnam’s mayorship. He won the seat in 2010 on his second attempt and was re-elected in 2014. From 2018 to 2021, he served as governor of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea’s most populous region.
