Lee Teng-hui, who led Taiwan on its path to democracy dies at age 97
- 4 years ago
대만 민주화 이끈 리덩후이 전 대만 총통 별세
Good morning to our viewers across the globe, you're watching Arirang's 'The World Now'. I'm Kim Jae-hee.
Lee Teng-hui, who led Taiwan on its path to democracy, has died at the age 97.
Lee was diagnosed with pneumonia in February and had been receiving treatment since then.
He died of septic shock and multiple organ failure at a Taipei hospital on Thursday afternoon.
Also dubbed "Mr. Democracy" and the "Father of Taiwan", Lee was Taiwan's first democratically-elected president in 1996.
He strove to create an independent identity and to promote democratic reforms in Taiwan, which angered the Chinese government in Beijing, who saw Taiwan as part of its mainland. But Lee never backed down.
"Until now, mainland China will not admit the fact that the Republic of China is a different government and is a separated sovereign state. They have been using the threat of military force against us since the start of history."
Lee served as Taiwan's president for 12 years from 1988 to the year 2000.
He brought direct elections for parliament and other democratic changes, while promoting freedom of expression and a free press.
Lee was also native to the island, born in a farming community near Taipei in 1923.
Current Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said in a statement that Lee's contribution to Taiwan's democracy was "irreplaceable", and his death is a tremendous loss for the country.
Good morning to our viewers across the globe, you're watching Arirang's 'The World Now'. I'm Kim Jae-hee.
Lee Teng-hui, who led Taiwan on its path to democracy, has died at the age 97.
Lee was diagnosed with pneumonia in February and had been receiving treatment since then.
He died of septic shock and multiple organ failure at a Taipei hospital on Thursday afternoon.
Also dubbed "Mr. Democracy" and the "Father of Taiwan", Lee was Taiwan's first democratically-elected president in 1996.
He strove to create an independent identity and to promote democratic reforms in Taiwan, which angered the Chinese government in Beijing, who saw Taiwan as part of its mainland. But Lee never backed down.
"Until now, mainland China will not admit the fact that the Republic of China is a different government and is a separated sovereign state. They have been using the threat of military force against us since the start of history."
Lee served as Taiwan's president for 12 years from 1988 to the year 2000.
He brought direct elections for parliament and other democratic changes, while promoting freedom of expression and a free press.
Lee was also native to the island, born in a farming community near Taipei in 1923.
Current Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said in a statement that Lee's contribution to Taiwan's democracy was "irreplaceable", and his death is a tremendous loss for the country.