Kim Moonsoo Says "Lee Jaemyung Acted Like Royalty by Taking Helicopter After Busan Attack"... Lee Responds "My Family Wanted Me in Seoul"

Controversy Over "Special Privilege" in the Past Raised Again During TV Debate

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, addressed the controversy surrounding his transfer to Seoul National University Hospital instead of the nearby Pusan National University Hospital trauma center after being attacked in Busan. On May 23, he stated, "I was injured and lying down at the time, so I was not aware of the situation, but my family expressed the opinion that it would be better for me to be near Seoul since I would need to be hospitalized for a long time. The medical staff also judged that it would be better to transfer me to Seoul National University Hospital."

On the 23rd, the 2nd presidential candidate debate of the 21st presidential election is being broadcast live on the TV in the Seoul Station waiting room. Photo by Yonhap News

During the 21st presidential election candidate TV debate held at the KBS headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the same day, Lee responded to a question from Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, who asked him to explain why he was transported by helicopter to Seoul National University Hospital, rather than to the highest-rated regional trauma center at Pusan National University Hospital or Seongnam Medical Center, which is considered one of his major achievements.

In January of the previous year, Lee was attacked in the neck with a weapon during a campaign rally in Busan and was transferred to Seoul National University Hospital by emergency medical helicopter.

Lee explained, "Seongnam Medical Center is a hospital focused on public healthcare that does not perform procedures typically done at general hospitals, so I understand there was no staff available for vascular surgery at that time. Although some say it was a simple operation, the artery was missed by 1mm, and 67% of the vein was severed. If the wound had been just 1mm deeper, it could have been fatal."

Kim asked, "The regional trauma center at Pusan National University Hospital is rated first-class nationwide and is an excellent hospital. Did you not consider that when you simply said, 'I'm leaving' and took the helicopter, many medical staff in Busan might have felt disappointed and deeply insulted?"

In response, Lee said, "That point still remains in my heart. I feel regret and apologize for any sense of deprivation or exclusion that medical staff in the Busan area may have felt."