People Power Party Raises Allegations of Special Hospital Admission for Lee Jae-myung's Son in Military Hospital

Long-term Hospitalization at Armed Forces Capital Hospital During Military Service
No Official 'Personnel Order' Record for Admission Procedure

A photo posted on Facebook in August 2014 by Lee Mo, son of Lee Jae-myung. (Photo by Park Soo-young's office)

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The People Power Party has raised allegations that Lee Mo, the eldest son of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, received preferential hospitalization at the Seongnam Armed Forces Capital Hospital during his military service.

According to the office of Representative Park Soo-young on the 26th, Lee posted a photo on his social media service (SNS) in August 2014, while serving in the military (August 2013 to August 2015), showing him sitting cross-legged wearing the lower part of a military hospital patient uniform. A comment from an acquaintance on the post said, "I think I saw you at the water bottle (Seongnam Armed Forces Capital Hospital) last time, in orthopedics."

Representative Park Soo-young claimed that Lee, as the son of then-Seongnam Mayor Lee, received preferential treatment by being hospitalized long-term for about 3 to 4 months at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital. According to testimonies from military unit officials at the time, there was evidence that Lee was hospitalized at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital from early summer 2014 until after August, for approximately 3 to 4 months. Although it was reported that Lee had an 'ankle injury,' there were also testimonies that he engaged in physical activities such as playing basketball and doing squats.

An official from the representative’s office explained, "Lee reportedly underwent ankle surgery, but after consulting orthopedic specialists, it was confirmed that the usual discharge period is about a week," adding, "The standard procedure is to be treated first at the unit’s medical center or a local military hospital, and if the condition is serious, then be hospitalized at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital."

Representative Park also raised suspicions that Lee was hospitalized at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital without following official procedures. According to inquiries made by the office to the Air Force, there is no 'personnel order document' recording Lee’s hospitalization. When soldiers are admitted to or discharged from military hospitals, it must be officially recorded through personnel orders, but Lee’s military hospital personnel order records only show an 8-night, 9-day admission and discharge at the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital from September 18 to 26, 2014.

Representative Park stated, "If the preferential hospitalization allegations are true, this is an incident that wounds the hearts of young people who faithfully fulfill their national defense duties and their families," and added, "Candidate Lee should openly explain to the public about the suspicion that his eldest son was hospitalized at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital without a personnel order, and the military authorities should disclose the candidate’s son’s military hospital admission and discharge records, medical and treatment records, and leave orders."

The Democratic Party acknowledged that Lee did receive treatment at a military hospital but countered that the hospitalization period is a matter for the military hospital to decide. On the same day, Kwon Hyuk-ki, the Democratic Party’s election campaign public relations deputy director, said, "(Lee) did have surgery at a military hospital for an ankle issue and took annual leave and vacation to undergo treatment," adding, "Whether to be hospitalized for a certain period after ankle surgery and receive treatment before discharge is a decision for the military medical officer, not the patient."