Cho Soon
Cho Soon | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 1, 1928 Jumunjin, Kōgen Province, Korea |
| Died | June 23, 2022 (aged 94) Seoul, South Korea |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, politician |
| Years active | 1949–2000 |
| Known for | First popularly elected Mayor of Seoul, Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea, Governor of the Bank of Korea |
Cho Soon (; 1 February 1928 – 23 June 2022) was a distinguished South Korean economist and political figure, recognized as Seoul’s inaugural mayor elected by popular vote (1995–1997). His career also included roles such as deputy prime minister (1988–1990) and governor of the Bank of Korea (1992–1993).
Life
Originating from Jumunjin, Kōgen Province, Korea during the period of Japanese occupation, Cho completed his undergraduate studies at Seoul National University in 1949 and later attained a doctoral degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He was affiliated with the Grand National Party before joining the Democratic People's Party, holding significant positions in both economic and governmental sectors.
During President Roh Tae-woo’s administration, Cho fulfilled the duties of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister until 1990. Subsequently, he was appointed Governor of the Bank of Korea for a one-year term. In the 1995 mayoral election, Cho secured victory with 42.4% of the votes, marking him as Seoul’s first mayor chosen through direct election. Following this, he served as a member of the National Assembly from 1998 until 2000.
Cho died in Seoul on 23 June 2022 at the age of 94 due to natural causes.