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Goh Kun
고건
대한민국 총리 고건 서울종합방재센터 방문90 (cropped).jpg
Goh in 2010
Acting President of South Korea
In office
12 March 2008 – 14 May 2008
Prime Minister Himself
Preceded by Roh Moo-hyun
Succeeded by Roh Moo-hyun
30th & 35th Prime Minister of South Korea
In office
4 March 1997 – 3 March 1998
President Kim Young-sam
Kim Dae-jung
Preceded by Lee Soo Sung
Succeeded by Kim Jong-pil
In office
26 February 2003 – 25 July 2004
President Roh Moo-hyun
Preceded by Kim Suk-soo
Succeeded by Lee Hun Jai (acting)
Lee Hae Chan
22nd & 31st Mayor of Seoul
In office
5 December 1988 – 27 December 1990
Preceded by Kim Yong-rae
Succeeded by Park Seh-jik
In office
1 July 1998 – 30 June 2002
Preceded by Cho Soon
Kang Duk-ki (acting)
Succeeded by Lee Myung-bak
Personal details
Born (1938-01-02) 2 January 1938 (age 86)
Keijō, Keiki-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan
(today Seoul, South Korea)
Political party Democratic Justice (1980–1990)
Democratic Liberal
(1990–1995)
Democratic (1998–2007)
Alma mater Seoul National University (BS, MS)
Signature
Korean name
Hangul
고건
Hanja
高建
Revised Romanization Go Geon
McCune–Reischauer Ko Kŏn

Goh Kun (Hangul: 고건; Hanja: 高建, born 2 January 1938) is a South Korean politician who served as the 30th and 35th prime minister of South Korea from 1997 to 1998 and again from 2003 to 2004. He was also the acting president of South Korea at the time of Roh Moo-hyun's suspension in 2004 and a former mayor of Seoul.

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.

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.

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.

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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Goh Kun para niños

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