Lee Han-dong

Former Prime Minister Lee Han-dong died of a chronic disease Saturday at the age of 87, according to a close aide the same day.

"The former prime minister died at his home at around noon," the aide told Yonhap News Agency.

Lee served six terms as a lawmaker from 1981 to 2000 and as prime minister from 2000 to 2002 under then President Kim Dae-jung.

In 2002, he made an unsuccessful presidential bid with a pledge to eradicate regionalism and corruption.

In 2004, he was indicted without detention on charges of taking illegal political funds worth 200 million won (US$170,000) in cash from SK Group during the presidential election.

The Seoul Central District Court handed him a two-year suspended sentence and ordered him to pay 200 million won in restitution. (Yonhap)