About two years ago, I wrote about South Korean President-elect Lee Myung-Bak’s “student radical” days and how he came to get his chaebol job despite his prison record, on the now defunct blog The Korea Liberator (archived here).

This episode is fairly well-known in South Korea, but I reproduce much of the original post below for the American audiences, in light of Lee’s election victory:

In or about 1964, Lee served six months in jail for student activities while at Korea University, reputedly for protesting against the upcoming normalization with Japan. Lee graduated subsquently in 1965 at the age of 24.

The following is a tidbit regarding Lee about that time, found in a Korean blog:

스물네살의 이명박은 오갈데 없는 신세였다. 그럭저럭 학교는 졸업했지만 학생운동으로 한차례 감방 신세까지 진 터라 여기저기 원서를 내봐도 매번 미끄려지기만 했다. 시험을 아무리 잘 봐도 마찬가지였다. 현대건설의 인사담당자는 아예 대놓고 전과자를 뽑을 수는 없다고 말하기도 했다. 막막한 상황이었다.

이명박은 청와대에 편지를 썼다. “한 개인의 앞날을 국가가 막을 수 있는가. 그렇다면 국가는 그 개인에게 영원한 빚을 지게 된다.” 협박아닌 협박에 청와대 민정수석 비서관이 마음을 바꿔 먹었고 그 편지 덕분에 이명박은 현대건설에 입사할 수 있었다.

면접 자리에서 정주영 회장은 물었다. “건설이 뭐라고 생각하나.” “창조라고 생각합니다.” “왜 그런가.” “무에서 유를 창조하기 때문입니다.” “그 사람 말은 잘하는구만.” 정 회장과의 첫 만남은 그렇게 시작됐다. 정 회장은 당당하고 당돌한 이명박에게 마음이 갔다.

Rough translation (any defects and faults are entirely mine):

24 year-old Lee Myung-Bak had nowhere to go. He barely graduated, but due to student activities and prison stay, all his applications for jobs were turned down. Even good examination scores meant nothing. Hyundai Construction’s human resources representative told him bluntly that there is no possibility for an ex-convict. It was a difficult conundrum.

Lee Myung-Bak then wrote a letter to Chung Hwa Dae (the presidential Blue House): “The nation (alt. translation: the state) cannot obstruct an individual’s future. If it were to do so, it would owe an eternal debt to the individual.” Due to this “threat without a threat,” Chung Hwa Dae Deputy Assistant Min Jung-Soo changed his mind, and it was because of the letter that Lee was able to enter Hyundai Construction.

During the job interview, Hyundai Chairman Jung Joo-Yung asked “What do you think ‘construction’ means?” Lee replied “It means creation.” “Why is that?” “Construction is about creating something from nothing.” Jung said of him “This person speaks very well.” Thus began their first meeting. Chairman Jung liked Lee’s fortright and bold manners.

The rest, as is said, is history. Lee became the youngest professional (i.e. non-family) general manager of a major Chaebol company at age 35, a unique accomplishment in South Korea, particularly in that era.