PM nominee's son undergoes medical examination
The second son of Prime Minister-designate Lee Wan-koo undergoes an X-ray at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Thursday. The son is under suspicion of dodging mandatory military service. / Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) ruled out speculation, Thursday, that Prime Minister Nominee Lee Wan-koo’s second son had medical surgery to avoid the military draft.
“Given the medical data he submitted to us, he had to undergo an operation for a justifiable reason,” said Lee Myun-chul, an orthopedist at the SNUH. “Also, our own examination shows he indeed has a metal implant in his femur and tibia.
The doctor’s comment came after the former floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, had his son undergo a medical examination to clear suspicions that he dodged military conscription.
The son, whose name was not disclosed, had X-rays of his knees taken at SNUH, with reporters present. The media agreed not to disclose his information to protect his privacy.
The former lawmaker has been under growing pressure to explain why his son was given an exemption, which is prevalent among the children of politicians, high-ranking bureaucrats and entrepreneurs.
In August 2000, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) classified Lee’s son as physically and mentally eligible to serve in the military.
He was then granted a military service exemption in June 2006 after he had surgery for ruptured cruciate ligaments. He sustained the injury while playing football in October 2004 when he was a student in the United States, according to Lee.
“My second son was not healthy enough to join the military and today’s medical examination is intended to prove that,” Lee said. “I’m regretful for what he has to go thorough because of me.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Jin Sung-joon of the main opposition News Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) said suspicion over Lee’s son still remains despite the SNUH explanation.
“The hospital has not proved his condition was bad enough for him to get exempted from military duty,” Jin said.
Lee will undergo a parliamentary hearing for two days from Feb. 9.
President Park Geun-hye named Lee last Friday to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Chung Hong-won.
Chung has been the only person who has qualified to take the post since Park became President in February 2013.
Repeated failures in her selection of other prime ministerial nominees led to a state management vacuum and public criticism.