LEE, W0n-kuk 이원국/李元國
BORN: 13 April 1907 Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea
DIED: 02 February 2003 Arlington, Virginia, USA.
In many places it is written that Lee was born in Seoul, this is a modern mistake as he was educated in Seoul before he left for Japan in 1925-1926. In 1926 Lee migrated to Japan to attend Chou University after a two-year prep at the High School level which was standard practice for Koreans at the time. Koreans were considered Japanese citizens but of a second-class nature. While Chou at the time did have graduate degrees in Law, and it is stated that Lee went to study law at Chou, the most likely route was to study commerce and or Economics as with few exceptions, would a Korean be allowed such a degree path at that time? Chou University at that time had 3-degree paths, Law (English Law), Commerce, and Economics from 1920-1949 era. A records request was submitted to Chou University, and since we do not know his name (Japanese name) used, the request was unsuccessful.
