Two of the most well-known Korean collaborators, prime minister Lee Wan-yong and academic Lee Byeong-do, are long dead. But their legacy continues to resonate among their critics and descendants.
LEE WAN-YONG: To this day, the name of Lee Wan-yong remains a byword for treachery in Korea. Lee was one of the most ardent supporters of the Eulsa treaty, which handed Korea's sovereignty to the colonial power of Japan. He was instrumental in forcing the abdication of Korean Emperor Kojong, who had refused to sign the treaty. Instead, as prime minister, Lee signed the annexation agreement in 1910 and for his services was made a count by the Japanese.
LEE BYEONG-DO: Born in 1896, Lee Byeong-do was a noted historian who wrote in justification of colonial authority during Japanese rule. Following independence, Lee served as education minister and dean of the graduate school of South Korea's top academic institution, Seoul National University. Earlier this year, 17 years after his death, Lee's grandson was put forward as president of SNU. The nomination of Lee Jang-mu was fiercely opposed by a nationalist group, but he was ultimately confirmed.
