1. Overview
Lee Sang-don, born on December 4, 1951, is a prominent South Korean legal scholar, university professor, and politician. He is recognized for his self-identified "conservative liberal" ideology, which draws influence from American conservatism and neoconservatism while maintaining a critical stance on traditional South Korean conservatism. Throughout his career, he has served as a professor at Chung-Ang University, held various leadership roles within academic institutions, and was a member of the 20th National Assembly. He is particularly known for his outspoken critiques of the Lee Myung-bak government and the South Korean prosecution system, advocating for significant reforms and accountability in governance. His public life reflects a consistent engagement with national policy-making and a commitment to intellectual discourse through his academic work, columns, and political activities.
2. Early Life and Education
Lee Sang-don's early life and extensive education laid the foundation for his diverse career in law, academia, and politics.
2.1. Birth and Family Background
Lee Sang-don was born on December 4, 1951, in Busan, South Korea, during the Korean War. He is the maternal grandson of the renowned painter Go Hui-dong, who is recognized as the first Korean artist to study Western painting.
2.2. Education and Military Service
Lee Sang-don completed his primary education at Seoul Susong Elementary School and continued through Gyeonggi Middle School and Gyeonggi High School. He then pursued higher education at Seoul National University, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in law. Following his graduate studies, he was commissioned as a naval officer in February 1976, serving until July 1979.
After his military service, Lee Sang-don continued his legal studies in the United States. He received a Master of Laws degree from Tulane University in May 1980, followed by a Master of Arts degree in comparative law from the University of Miami in May 1981. He returned to Tulane University to complete his doctoral studies, earning a Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.) in May 1983. His doctoral research focused on "Legal Issues of Marine Pollution from Offshore Oil Development," reflecting an early interest in environmental law and policy.
3. Academic Career
Lee Sang-don dedicated a significant portion of his career to academia, primarily at Chung-Ang University, where he held various professorial and administrative positions. He also contributed to public discourse as a visiting professor and a columnist.
He began his tenure at Chung-Ang University as an assistant professor in September 1983, advancing to associate professor in March 1988, and becoming a full professor in March 1993, a position he held until February 2013. During his time at the university, he served as the Dean of the Law School from December 2001 to February 2003, and later as the Director of the Law Research Institute from July 2007 to February 2009. After his long service, he was appointed an honorary professor of the Law School at Chung-Ang University.
Beyond his primary academic role, Lee Sang-don was a visiting professor at Loyola University Law School in the United States from September to December 1995. He also contributed regularly as a non-executive columnist for prominent South Korean publications, including Monthly Chosun and The Chosun Ilbo, from September 1995 to December 2003. In his columns, he often introduced translated works by figures associated with the American Republican Party, sometimes characterizing figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter, and John F. Kennedy as socialists. He was also known for his critical essays targeting politicians of the "386 generation" in South Korea.
4. Political Career
Lee Sang-don's political career saw him engage with several major parties and serve as a national legislator, reflecting his evolving political affiliations and commitment to public service.
4.1. Party Activities
Lee Sang-don's involvement in politics began with the Saenuri Party (formerly the Grand National Party), where he served as a member of the Emergency Committee and the Political Reform Special Committee. Despite his affiliation, he was known for his critical distance from then-President Lee Myung-bak, which drew criticism from some pro-Lee Myung-bak lawmakers within the party.
In February 2016, ahead of the 20th general election, Lee Sang-don left the Saenuri Party and joined the People's Party, a liberal political party led by Ahn Cheol-soo. He was appointed as a co-chairman of the party's election committee alongside Kim Han-gil. He later served as a member of the People's Party's Supreme Council from March to May 2016 and as the chairman of the People's Party's national convention in August 2017. Following the People's Party's merger with the Bareun Party to form the Bareunmirae Party, he became a member of the new party. He later transitioned to the Minjoo Peace Party, serving as the Director of the Democratic Peace Research Institute from March to August 2018, before eventually joining the Minsaeng Party. From February to November 2021, he was a member of the Political Subcommittee of the National Assembly National Unification Committee.
4.2. Parliamentary Service
Lee Sang-don served as a 20th National Assembly member from May 2016 to May 2020, representing the People's Party as a proportional representative. During his tenure, he was actively involved in various legislative committees. He served on the Environment and Labor Committee during both the first half (June 2016 to May 2018) and the second half (July 2018 to May 2020) of the 20th National Assembly. Additionally, he was a member of the Constitutional Revision Special Committee from December 2016 to December 2017. From May to September 2017, he acted as the secretary for the Special Committee on the Confirmation Hearing for the Appointment of Constitutional Court President Kim Yi-su.
5. Ideology and Political Views
Lee Sang-don defines himself as a "conservative liberal," a distinct ideological position that shapes his critical analyses of South Korean politics and society.
His liberal philosophy is deeply influenced by American conservatism and neoconservatism, particularly drawing from figures like William F. Buckley Jr.. This intellectual foundation leads him to emphasize "liberty" over traditional "conservatism" in his political thought. Despite this influence, he maintains a strong critical stance against what he perceives as the shortcomings of South Korean conservatism. He has frequently critiqued the established conservative political forces in South Korea, arguing that they have failed to uphold true conservative values and have often been mired in corruption or outdated practices.
Lee Sang-don is also known for his critiques of the "386 generation" politicians, a term referring to South Koreans born in the 1960s who attended university in the 1980s and were active in the pro-democracy movement. He has expressed concerns about their political approaches and influence, often through his columns and public statements. His overall ideological positioning reflects a desire for principled governance, accountability, and a re-evaluation of traditional political labels in the South Korean context.
6. Public Statements and Media Appearances
Lee Sang-don has been a vocal commentator on South Korean politics, particularly known for his critical assessments of government actions and his participation in public debates.
6.1. Critiques of the Lee Myung-bak Administration and the Prosecution
Lee Sang-don was a prominent critic of the Lee Myung-bak government (2008-2013). He publicly expressed concerns about alleged real estate cover-ups by the administration, specifically citing issues in Naegok-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. He warned that Lee Myung-bak's political associates and extensive history of alleged political corruption could significantly undermine the government and the then-ruling Saenuri Party after the 2012 South Korean presidential election. In 2010, he controversially suggested that President Lee Myung-bak and then-Saenuri Party leader Park Geun-hye should part ways, likening Lee Myung-bak's leadership to a potential "Watergate scandal-like incident," a reference to the South Korean illegal surveillance incident that politically isolated Lee Myung-bak from his own party.
Through his personal blog, Lee Sang-don also posted columns criticizing the Lee Myung-bak administration on various issues. He argued that the prosecution's indictment of PD Notebook producers in July 2008 lacked justification. In July 2008, he expressed doubts about his own qualifications to criticize young participants in candlelight vigils, given his previous participation in outdoor rallies alongside Grand National Party lawmakers against Roh Moo-hyun's private school law reform. Furthermore, in July 2008, he conveyed a sense of despair regarding President Lee Myung-bak's perceived lack of understanding of Japan's territorial ambitions concerning Dokdo.
Lee Sang-don also called for extensive reforms of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea. He proposed that the next administration should "dismantle and reassemble" the prosecution, arguing that the organization itself was complicit in covering up corruption generated by officials within the Lee Myung-bak government.
6.2. TV Debate Incident
On April 4, 2012, Lee Sang-don was involved in a notable public incident when he abruptly left a live political debate program broadcast on tvN Asia. This unexpected departure generated considerable controversy and media attention at the time.
7. Published Works
Lee Sang-don has authored several books, contributing to legal scholarship and public discourse on contemporary issues in South Korea. His works include:
- 세계의 트렌드를 읽는 100권의 책100 Books to Read the World's TrendsKorean. Giparangk, 2006.
- 비판적 환경주의자Critical EnvironmentalistKorean. Brainbooks, 2006.
- 위기에 처한 대한민국South Korea in CrisisKorean. Gyeongdeok Publishing, 2007. This book is also known as 비판적 보수주의자 이상돈이 본 위기에 처한 대한민국South Korea in Crisis as Seen by Critical Conservative Lee Sang-donKorean.
- 조용한 혁명Quiet RevolutionKorean. Views, 2011.
8. Evaluation and Associated Figures
Lee Sang-don's political and academic career has been subject to various evaluations, and he has interacted with numerous influential figures in South Korean society. His critical stance, particularly towards established conservative factions, has sometimes led to friction, such as the criticisms he received from pro-Lee Myung-bak lawmakers during his involvement in the restructuring of the Saenuri Party.
He is associated with or has interacted with a wide range of political and intellectual figures, reflecting the breadth of his engagement across the political spectrum. These figures include:
- Lee Hoi-chang
- Song Bok
- Kim Dae-jung (journalist)
- Cho Gab-je
- Jeon Won-chaek
- Seo Jeong-gap
- Ryu Geun-il
- Hong Il-sik
- Lee Do-hyeong
- Kim Seong-wook
- Park Hong (priest)