Lee Hun Jai

Lee Hun Jai (born April 17 1944 in Shanghai, China) is a politician from South Korea who has served as the acting Prime Minister of that country twice, from May 19 2000, to May 22 2000, and from May 25 2004, to June 30 2004. Both times others were nominated to officially take that position and were confirmed by Parliament, while Lee was meant only as a temporary placeholder. Lee does not belong to any political party.

Lee joined the finance ministry in 1970 and soon distinguished himself, helping to avert a currency crisis in 1973 which resulted from an oil shortage. He left the finance ministry in 1981 and rejoined the government later. He served as chairman of the South Korean Securities and Exchange Commission from 1991 to 1996 and as chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission from 1998 to 2000. While in these positions he was known as a ruthless business and banking reformer. In January 2000 he became finance minister for the first time and served in that position until August 2000. In February 2004 he became deputy prime minister and also became finance minister again. On March 7 2005, he announced his resignation from these positions after he was implicated in a real estate scandal. He left office a week later after his replacement was chosen.