Lee Dae-yong (Korean이대용; Hanja李大鎔; 20 November 1925 – 14 November 2017) was a South Korean army officer and diplomat.

Early life

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Lee was born in North Hwanghae Province on 20 November 1925.

Military career

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During the Korean War, he served as an officer in the 6th Infantry Division, Republic of Korea Army.

He served as a commander of the 1st Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment in the Battle of Chuncheon.[1]

Diplomat career

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In 1963, Lee was appointed as a military attaché to the South Korean embassy in South Vietnam. In 1973, he was appointed as a minister in the South Korean embassy in South Vietnam (Originally, he belonged to the Korean Central Intelligence Agency)[2]

During the Fall of Saigon, South Korean diplomats attempted to flee South Vietnam as part of Operation Frequent Wind. Lee and two South Korean diplomats (Ahn Hee-wan and Seo Byeong-ho) failed to escape.[3] They were arrested by the People's Army of Vietnam and held for questioning in Chí Hòa Prison in October 1975.[4]

The North Korean government tried to take the prisoners, but the South Korean government negotiated with North Korea for their return to South Korea.[5]

Following the Sino-Vietnamese War, North Korea supported China. This has soured relations between Vietnam and North Korea.

At that time, the Israeli businessman Shaul Eisenberg worked as a secret envoy for South Korea.[6][7]

On 12 April 1980, Vietnamese government released Lee and the two other diplomats to South Korea.[3]

After return

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In 2001, Lee met Vietnam's ambassador to South Korea 'Dương Chính Thức', who was the official responsible for his arrest in 1975.[8]

Awards and decorations

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Legacy

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In 1986, his story was turned into a drama (ko:사이공 억류기) on MBC.

References

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