Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin Discharged After 3 Days... Return to Work Undecided

On the 26th, Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin, who fainted at the Daegu City Council, is being transferred to an ambulance by 119 paramedics. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin, who collapsed after clashing with city council members over the urgent livelihood fund payment issue related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), was discharged from the hospital three days after admission.

According to Daegu City on the 29th, Mayor Kwon returned home in the morning after completing heart and cerebrovascular examinations at Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu. His blood pressure is also reported to have returned to normal levels. Although the medical staff recommended a few more days of hospitalization, the mayor expressed his intention to return to work normally as early as the 30th after resting at home.

However, the recovery of Mayor Kwon's health may take more time, so the actual timing of his return to work remains flexible. A Daegu city official said, "His physical strength is very low, so depending on the situation, his return to work could be delayed further."

Mayor Kwon attended a special session of the Daegu City Council on the 26th to handle the COVID-19 related budget bill but fainted after a verbal dispute with city council member Lee Jin-ryeon of the Democratic Party over the timing of the urgent livelihood fund payment, and was hospitalized at Kyungpook National University Hospital. At that time, the city stated that Mayor Kwon showed symptoms of vomiting, dizziness, chest pain, low blood pressure, and nystagmus (eye twitching). Mayor Kwon tested negative for COVID-19.