Perspectives from the Former Prime Minister of South Korea

with

Han Myeong-sook
Former Prime Minister, Republic of Korea

Thursday, November 8, 2007

As the first woman to serve as the Republic of Korea’s prime minister, Han Myeong-sook has a singular perspective on Korean politics and society. Both are now in flux, as South Koreans prepare to head to the polls to elect a new president, North-South ties continue to break new ground and significant progress is being made at the Six-Party Talks. At this program, Han will share her views on all these subjects, as well as on U.S.–Korea ties and South Korea’s evolving social norms.

About the Speaker

Han Myeong-sook served as the Republic of Korea’s prime minister from April 2006 to March 2007. A member of the 16th and 17th sessions of the National Assembly, representing Ilsan, Han sat on committees for unifications, foreign affairs, trade, environment and labor, as well as the Central Standing Committee of the Uri Party. From 2003 to 2004, she was minister of environment for the Roh administration and from 2001 to 2003 she was first minister of gender equality in the Kim Dae-jung administration.

Before entering government, Han was a lecturer in Women’s Studies at Ewha Woman’s University. Imprisoned from 1979 to 1981 for her pro-democracy activism, Han was exonerated of any wrongdoing in 2001. Han holds a BA in French and an MA in Women’s Studies from Ewha. For her contributions to the cause of gender equality, she was awarded the Civil Merit Medal in 1998 and the Blue Stripes Order of Service Medal in 2005.