People Power Party raises 'special treatment suspicion' over Lee Jae-myung's eldest son Lee Mo's long-term hospitalization during military service
Democratic Party refutes, "Based on military doctor's judgment"
A photo posted on Facebook in August 2014 by Lee Mo, the eldest son of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate. Photo by Park Soo-young's office.
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The Democratic Party's campaign committee rebutted the allegations of "preferential military hospitalization" concerning Lee Mo, the eldest son of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, raised by the People Power Party, stating that it was "based on the judgment of military doctors."
On the 26th, Kwon Hyuk-ki, deputy director of public relations for the campaign committee, made this statement regarding the issue of Lee's eldest son Lee's hospitalization in a military hospital, which was raised by Park Soo-young, a member of the People Power Party, following Lee's press conference held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul.
Earlier, Park claimed that during Lee's tenure as mayor of Seongnam, Lee's son received preferential treatment by being hospitalized for about 3 to 4 months at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital.
According to Park, Lee served as an administrative soldier at the Personnel Administration Office of the Air Force Basic Military Training Unit in Jinju, Gyeongnam, from August 2013 to August 2015. According to testimonies from military unit officials, there was evidence that Lee was hospitalized at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital for about 3 to 4 months from early summer 2014 to after August. Although Lee was reported to have suffered an "ankle injury," there were also testimonies that he engaged in physical activities such as playing basketball and doing squats.
Park also pointed out the circumstances of Lee's hospitalization. Park explained, "It is very unusual for Lee, who was assigned to a unit in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, to be hospitalized at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, which is more than 200 km away." Usually, treatment and hospitalization occur first at the unit's medical corps and local military hospitals, and if serious, at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, but this was not the case for Lee. Park added, "This is why there are suspicions that Lee, who lived in Seongnam, received preferential hospitalization close to home using 'dad's chance.'"
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, denied the allegations of preferential military hospitalization for his eldest son, calling it "fake news." Photo by Facebook Lee Jae-myung page capture.
In response, Deputy Director Kwon denied the allegations as "fake news" and explained that there was no preferential treatment. Kwon said, "It is true that he underwent surgery at a military hospital for an ankle problem. It is also true that he took annual leave and vacation to undergo treatment." He added, "Undergoing ankle surgery, being hospitalized for a certain period for treatment, and then being discharged is based on the judgment of military doctors and is not something the patient can decide."
When asked if taking annual leave and vacation meant he went to a civilian hospital, Kwon said, "I will check a bit more," but emphasized, "The decision is not made by the reporter or me, but by the military doctors who performed the treatment."
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