How to Pronounce Lee Myung-bak

Meaning and Context

Lee Myung-bak, born in 1941, was inaugurated as the 10th President of South Korea in February 2008 and served a single five-year term until 2013, representing the conservative Grand National Party (later Saenuri Party). His presidency, often termed the "MBnomics" or "Business-Friendly" administration, was defined by a focus on revitalizing the South Korean economy through large-scale infrastructure projects like the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project and an emphasis on green growth. A former CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction and Mayor of Seoul, where he oversaw the Cheonggyecheon Restoration project, Lee's tenure was marked by efforts to strengthen South Korea-US relations and pursue pragmatic diplomacy. However, his pro-business legacy is intertwined with controversies, including his conviction for corruption in 2018, which resulted in a prison sentence, casting a long shadow over his presidential record and the broader political landscape of conservative South Korean politics.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name "Lee Myung-bak" follows the standard Korean convention of family name first, with "Lee" being the surname. The most common alternative spelling arises from different Romanization systems. The Revised Romanization of Korean, the official system used in South Korea since 2000, renders it as "Lee Myung-bak." However, the older McCune–Reischauer system spells it as "Yi Myŏng-bak," though this is rarely seen in contemporary media. A frequent typo or misspelling involves the hyphen, with many writing it as "Lee Myung Bak" (without the hyphen) or "Lee Myung-bak" (with an incorrect space). Misspellings of the given name include "Myeong-bak" or "Myung-bak," and occasionally the surname is mistakenly written as "Li." In Korean (Hangul), it is correctly written as 이명박.

Example Sentences

Historians often analyze Lee Myung-bak's presidency as a pivotal shift toward market-oriented economic policy in post-2008 financial crisis South Korea.

Following his conviction for embezzlement and bribery, the Supreme Court upheld a 17-year prison sentence for the former president in 2020.

The Cheonggyecheon stream restoration in downtown Seoul, a project championed by Lee during his mayoral tenure, remains a popular urban park and tourist attraction.

Critics of MBnomics argued that his administration's deregulation and large construction projects favored chaebols, or large family-owned conglomerates.

In diplomatic circles, Lee Myung-bak is credited with maintaining a strong alliance with the United States while taking a notably firm stance against North Korean provocations during his term.

Related Pronunciations

• How to pronounce Cho Jung-tai
• How to pronounce Lawrence Wong
• How to pronounce Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
• How to pronounce Kim Yo-jong
• How to pronounce Sonia Gandhi (Italian, Hindi)