Goh Kun

Template:Short description Template:Family name hatnote Goh Kun (Korean: , born 2 January 1938) is a South Korean politician who served as the prime minister of South Korea from 1997 to 1998 and again from 2003 to 2004. He was the acting president of South Korea at the time of Roh Moo-hyun's suspension in 2004 and the mayor of Seoul from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1998 to 2002.

Early life and education

Goh Kun was born on 2 January 1938 in modern day Seoul, South Korea and attended Kyunggi High School from 1953 to 1956. In 1960, Goh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Seoul National University, where he was President of the Student Council. He returned to the university in 1968 and graduated with a master's degree in 1971, majoring in urban planning.

Political career

Goh began his career in civil service in the 1960s, when he joined the Ministry of Home Affairs as a probationary officer. He was promoted through various positions, including the Governor of South Jeolla from 1975 to 1979, the Minister of Transportation from 1980 to 1981 and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from 1981 to 1982.

In 1985, Goh was elected as a Member of the National Assembly, before being appointed the mayor of Seoul in 1988. When he refused to approve a questionable development proposal in 1990, he was removed from office. However, he returned to the position in 1998, this time by election, and served until 2002. During his tenure, he initiated a "10 million trees of life" program in the Seoul and sought more aggressive emissions standards, which led to a significant greening of the city.

Prime Minister and acting president

He served as Prime Minister of South Korea from 1997 to 1998 and from 2003 to 2004.

He assumed the role of interim President following President Roh Moo-Hyun's impeachment, from 12 March 2004 until 14 May 2004, when the South Korean Constitutional Court overturned the impeachment decision and restored Roh's powers as President. He resigned from the office of Prime Minister on 24 May 2004 after refusing to comply with the President's request to replace cabinet members. He was succeeded in the office by Lee Hae-chan, who was approved on 30 June. Along with Goh, three other cabinet members were also replaced.

After political service

In June 2006, Goh announced his candidacy for the presidential race.

On 16 January 2007, he announced that he would no longer be a candidate for the presidential elections and that he would retire from political life. Despite his retirement, he was named head of social unity council by President Lee Myung-bak on 21 December 2009.

See also

• Impeachment of Roh Moo-hyun

External links

• "Goh Attends Symposium for Formation of New Party" - JoongAng Daily (12 September 2005)
• "Constitutional Court Reinstates South Korea's Impeached President" - NY Times (14 May 2004)
• "North Korea Appeals for Help After Railway Explosion" - NY Times (24 April 2004)
• "3,000 Casualties Reported in North Korean Rail Blast" - NY Times (23 April 2004)
• "Impeachment Case to Go Forward in Seoul" - NY Times (17 April 2004)
• "Bullet Train Remakes Map of South Korea" - NY Times (2 April 2004)
• "Acting President Goh Kun Holds First Cabinet Meeting" - Chosun Ilbo (15 March 2004)
• "A Steady Hand Promises Calm Amid the Furor In South Korea" - NY Times (14 March 2004)
• "President's Impeachment Stirs Angry Protests in South Korea" - NY Times (13 March 2004)
• "Goh Says Firmer Stance Against North to Stay" - Chosun Ilbo (19 May 2003)
• "Korea Can't Afford to Cop Out on Corporate Reform" - Bloomberg Businessweek (30 March 2003)
• "Threats and Responses: Seoul; Musing on an Exodus of G.I.'s, South Korea Hails U.S. Presence" - NY Times (8 March 2003)
• "South Korea's New President Gets His Choice for Prime Minister" - NY Times (27 February 2003)
• "Goh Kun" - Bloomberg Businessweek (1 July 2001)
• "Seoul's Web of Anti-Correption" - Bloomberg Businessweek (24 June 2001)