After working twice as the deputy prime minister for unification dealing with the relation between the divided two Korean states, Mr. Lee served as the Prime Minister of South Korea in 1994-1995. He was also a member of the Korean National Assembly and the chairman of then ruling New Korea Party. Mr. Lee was educated at Seoul National University, Emory University and Yale University where he received a Ph.D. in political science. He was on the faculty of Seoul National University for twenty years (1968-1988). Dr. Lee was the Korean ambassador to the United Kingdom (1991-93) and most recently to the United States (1998-2000). He is currently Chairman of the Board, Seoul Forum for International Affairs, the East Asian Institute, and the JoongAng Ilbo daily newspaper.

이홍구는 두 차례에 걸쳐 통일 부총리를 지낸 후에 1994년부터 1995년까지 국무총리를 지냈으며, 신한국당 대표위원으로 재임했다. 서울대학교와 에모리대학교를 거쳐 예일대학교에서 정치학 박사학위를 받았다. 1968년부터 20년간 교수로 부임했다. 주영국대사(1991년-1993년)와 주미대사(1998년-2000년)을 역임하였다. 현재 서울 국제포럼과 동아시아연구소 이사장 및 중앙일보 고문을 역임하고 있다.