New elevator installed at residence of Lee Kun-hee

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New elevator installed at residence of Lee Kun-hee



Is Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee being discharged from the hospital anytime soon?

That’s the new question surrounding the ailing tycoon as his health has been improving recently.

Samsung Group yesterday acknowledged reports that a type of elevator used at hospitals has been installed at the chairman’s home in Hannam-dong, central Seoul.

The elevator has been in the process of construction by Samsung C&T since mid-May, not long after the chairman was rushed to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. Inspection on the completed elevator was reportedly made on Sept. 5.

Samsung, however, said the construction of the elevator didn’t necessarily mean that Lee’s discharge from the hospital was imminent. The conglomerate said the elevator was built just in case the chairman was discharged and wanted to have a medical facility at his home with a quality on par with those at hospitals. The purpose was to create a stable and reliable treatment environment that also protects the chairman’s privacy.

It is said that treatment in an environment that feels more comfortable will help speed up a patient’s recovery.

Samsung said a discharge date has not yet been decided.

There has been speculation in the local media that the chairman will be leaving the hospital to receive treatment in his own home as early as this month. Other media speculates the date to be by the end of this year.

Earlier this week, Samsung acknowledged that Lee’s health has been improving and that he now sits in a wheel chair, which is a huge improvement from spending his days in bed.

“His health has been recovering and the medical staff has high hopes that his health will continue to improve,” said a Samsung official on Wednesday. “We hope you understand that we can’t discuss the details of his health status or the means of treatment,” the official added.

After receiving emergency treatment in May, Lee has been in the VIP ward of the Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]


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