Lee Hee-wan
Lee Hee-wan | |
|---|---|
이희완 | |
| 2nd Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs | |
| In office 11 December 2023 – 13 July 2025 | |
| President | Yoon Suk Yeol |
| Minister | Kang Jung-ai |
| Preceded by | Yun Jong-jin |
| Succeeded by | Kang Yun-jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 March 1976 Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea |
| Spouse(s) | Seo Ha-ra |
| Alma mater | Republic of Korea Naval Academy (Class 54) Seoul National University (MA, Psychology) |
| Awards | Chungmu Order of Military Merit (2002) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  South Korea |
| Service/ | Republic of Korea Navy |
| Rank | File:SouthKorea-Collar-OF-5.svg Captain |
| Unit | Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters |
| Commands held | Executive officer, PKM-357 Chamsuri-357 |
| Battles/wars | Second Battle of Yeonpyeong |
| Template:Infobox Korean/auto | |
Lee Hee-wan (Hangul: 이희완; born 7 March 1976) is a South Korean former Republic of Korea Navy officer and government official. He served as the executive officer of patrol boat Chamsuri-357 during the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong on 29 June 2002, and later as the 2nd Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs from 2023 to 2025.
Early life and education
Lee was born in Geumneung County (now Gimcheon), North Gyeongsang Province. He attended Guseong Elementary School, Ulsan Middle School, and Ulsan Seongsin High School, before entering the Republic of Korea Naval Academy as a member of its 54th class. He was commissioned as a Navy ensign in 2000. He later received a master's degree in psychology from Seoul National University.
Naval career
Second Battle of Yeonpyeong
After his commissioning, Lee was assigned as the executive officer of the Chamsuri-class patrol boat Chamsuri-357. The Chamsuri class, designated Patrol Killer Medium (PKM), had formed the backbone of the Republic of Korea Navy's coastal patrol capability since the 1970s, built in two batches by Korea Tacoma Marine Industries, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Hanjin Heavy Industries.[1]
On 29 June 2002, two North Korean patrol boats crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border, and launched a surprise attack on the South's Chamsuri-357 warship near the western island of Yeonpyeong.[2][3] The battle, lasting some 27 minutes, killed six South Korean sailors and injured around 19 others; around 30 North Koreans were thought to have been killed or wounded.[4][5]
His immediate superior and the boat's commanding officer, Yoon Young-ha,[note 1] was killed in action.[6] Lee, then a Lieutenant (junior grade), sustained gunshot wounds to both legs.
Despite his injuries, Lee assumed command of the vessel in place of the fallen captain and held the Northern Limit Line.[7][8] His right leg was subsequently amputated, and he was fitted with a prosthesis. He was referred to a review board for unfitness for continued active duty, but was permitted to return to service under Article 53-3 of the Military Personnel Management Act, a provision newly enacted in 2002 covering continued active service for military personnel whose physical disabilities resulted from exemplary conduct.
The 2015 South Korean film Northern Limit Line depicts a character based on Lee refusing treatment during the battle and ordering the killing of the enemy commander. Directed by Kim Hak-soon and starring Kim Mu-yeol, Jin Goo, and Lee Hyun-woo, the film debuted at number one in the South Korean box office on its opening day and went on to become the highest-grossing domestic film of 2015.[9][10][11]
Later service
Lee remained in the Republic of Korea Navy and eventually rose to the rank of Captain, serving at the Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters. He retired from active service on 10 December 2023.
Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
On 6 December 2023, Lee was appointed Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs by President Yoon Suk Yeol.[12] Following his retirement ceremony on 10 December, he was sworn in as the 2nd Vice Minister the next day.[13] He served in the post until 13 July 2025, when he was succeeded by Kang Yun-jin. During his tenure, he attended the 22nd anniversary ceremony of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong in 2024 alongside the Defence Minister and Chief of Naval Operations.[14]
Awards and decorations
- Chungmu Order of Military Merit (2002)
- 1st Devotion to Country Award (위국헌신상), 1 October 2010[15]
See also
- Second Battle of Yeonpyeong
- Yoon Young-ha
Notes
- ↑ Yoon held the rank of Lieutenant at the time of the battle and was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Under the Republic of Korea Navy's order of battle, Chamsuri-class patrol boats are commanded by an officer of Lieutenant rank.
References
- ↑ "Chamsuri Class / Patrol Killer Medium Craft". Naval Technology. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "S. Korea marks 2002 inter-Korean naval skirmish with 'victory' ceremony". The Korea Herald. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "Two NLL naval battles of Yeonpyeong". The Korea Times. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "Questions remain 10 years after naval clash in West Sea". The Korea Herald. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "Foreign military attaches donate to mark 2002 inter-Korean naval battle". The Korea Times. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "Questions remain 10 years after naval clash in West Sea". The Korea Herald. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "S. Korea marks 22nd anniversary of victorious inter-Korean naval skirmish". The Korea Herald. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "S. Korea marks 22nd anniversary of victorious inter-Korean naval skirmish". The Korea Times. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "South Korea Box Office: Local War Drama 'Northern Limit Line' Topples 'Jurassic World'". The Hollywood Reporter. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "Korean films dominate box office in 2015". The Korea Times. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "'Northern Limit Line': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "보훈 차관에 울산출신 이희완 대령 임명" [Captain Lee Hee-wan of Ulsan appointed Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs]. Ulsan Jeil Ilbo (in 한국어). 6 December 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ↑ "'제2연평해전 주역' 이희완 보훈부 차관 취임" ['Second Battle of Yeonpyeong hero' Lee Hee-wan sworn in as Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs]. Channel A (in 한국어). 11 December 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ↑ "S. Korea marks 22nd anniversary of victorious inter-Korean naval skirmish". The Korea Herald. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "(제1회 위국헌신상 시상식) 호국 영웅들, '가장 큰 명예'로 빛나다" [(1st Devotion to Country Award Ceremony) National defence heroes shine with 'greatest honour']. The Chosun Ilbo (in 한국어). 1 October 2010.
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