Heroic doctor who saved captain shot by Somali pirates named Armed Forces Hospital director

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik (left) awards an appointment certificate to Dr. Lee Cook-jong, director of Armed Forces Hospital in Daejeon on Wednesday. [NEWS1, MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE]

Dr. Lee Cook-jong, who saved a wounded freighter captain shot by Somali pirates and gunshot North Korean defector, was appointed as the director of the Armed Forces Hospital in Daejeon on Wednesday.

“I will diligently fulfill my role and duties as the director of the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital so that soldiers can maintain healthier military lifestyles,” Lee said.

“I admire and respect all the soldiers dedicating their lives to the nation. I will also proactively cooperate with the Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces Medical Command to improve the military health care system,” Lee added.

The Defense Ministry highly valued his will to contribute to military medicine and his capabilities as a trauma surgeon. Lee volunteered for the hospital’s director position.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik awarded the appointment certificate to him at 9 a.m. on the same day.

“Soldiers and Koreans have great expectations of Lee, Korea's most prestigious trauma doctor,” Shin said.

“The ministry looks forward to Lee’s role in rolling out remote military medical care and improving the emergency medical care system based on his previous achievements in the civic medical field and his experiences working with the military authorities,” he added.

The military promoted him to honorary captain, along with the appointment.

Lee received the title of honorary lieutenant in 2015 and was promoted to honorary commander in 2018 by the Korean Navy.

Lee became a national hero after he treated the gunshot wound of freighter captain Seok Hae-gyun, who was held hostage by Somali pirates in January 2011. Lee provided a 440 million won ($339,965) guarantee under his name to use a medical aircraft to transport Seok to Korea from Oman.

He also saved a North Korean soldier who was shot several times when he defected across the Joint Security Area in 2017.

Lee also made a considerable contribution to enhancing local emergency medical response systems.

In 2011, Lee urged the creation of trauma medical centers nationwide.

He played a pivotal role in introducing air ambulances, helicopters fitted for medical purposes, for swiftly transporting patients to hospitals in Gyeonggi.

Lee has served as a Defense Ministry medical adviser since August last year. He also has worked closely with the Navy since 2020.

According to the ministry, Lee has advised the military authorities on military medical policies while participating in military exercises such as rescue drills.

Lee will embark on his duty as the hospital head after his inauguration on Thursday.

BY CHO MOON-KYU, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]