Photo: 대한민국 국가기록원 (National Archives of Korea) / KOGL Type 1 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Lee Myung-bak is listed as a politician, businessperson and President of the Republic. Lee Myung-bak was born on December 19, 1941 in Kami, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The age as of 2026 is 84. Education on record includes Korea University. Awards on record include Royal Order of the Seraphim, Grand Order of Mugunghwa, Order of the Golden Eagle (2009) and 5 more.
My Take
Lee Myung-bak's trajectory fascinates and unsettles me in equal measure. Born in Osaka to a poor family, he climbed from construction executive to Seoul mayor to president of South Korea, an arc of ambition few could match. I respect the sheer drive, yet his later years remind me that political success and personal shadow often travel together. What lingers for me is the strange geography of it all: a man born in Japan reaching the very summit of Korean power. History rarely runs in straight lines, and his life is a vivid reminder of just how tangled those lines can be.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Lee Myung-bak
- Name (Japanese)
- 李明博
- Reading
- い みょんばく
- Born
- December 19, 1941 (age 84)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Snake
- Origin
- Kami, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
- Occupation
- politician / businessperson / President of the Republic
2. Background
- University
- Korea University
Awards & achievements
- Royal Order of the Seraphim
- Grand Order of Mugunghwa
- 2009 Order of the Golden Eagle
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- 2011 Knight of the Order of the Elephant
- 2011 Order of Zayed
- Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Order of the Sun of Peru
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee%20Myung-bak
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%8E%E6%98%8E%E5%8D%9A
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14342
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Lee Myung-bak born?
Born December 19, 1941 (age 84).
Where is Lee Myung-bak from?
Lee Myung-bak is from Kami, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
What does Lee Myung-bak do?
Lee Myung-bak works as politician, businessperson, President of the Republic.
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