By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
With all their wealth, fame and glitter, it's natural that rich folks want to live, well, forever. And there's one person _ the so-called ``doctor for chaebols'' _ whom top local executives have been counting on to help them do just that.
``CEOs tend to rely on oriental medicine because they can always take herbal medicine even if they're not actually sick _ it's preventive measures,'' said Han Seung-sub, director of Kumsan Oriental Clinic, in a Korea Times interview yesterday.
``Some are over-obsessive about their health, which can actually be another cause of bad health,'' he said.
Han has been caring for the wellness of many leading CEOs, including LG Group's first-generation executive Koo Pyong-hwoi; politician Chung Mong-joon; chairman of Chong Kun Dang Rhee Jang-han; founder and honorary chairman of Kumkang Korea Chemical (KCC) Chung Sang-young; and chairman of Hite Brewery Park Moon-deuk.
Not only the businessmen, but also their families frequent Han's clinic for routing check-ups and treatment.
``Chong Mong-joon walk up the Pukhan Mountain daily and chairman Rhee never skips a day at the gym,'' said Han. ``I would say that they are most representative of keeping a healthy lifestyle.''
Han prescribes medication when needed, but he emphasizes regular exercising as the best way to maintain good body condition, and he follows his words by joining them.
The 50-year-old leads a football club called ``Kickers'' along with sports fan Chung Mong-joon and other figures in business and legal circles.
While getting a fresh workout is helpful, that's certainly not the only thing the wealthy rely on, and as the must-have supplement for them, Han named ``kongjindan.''
``It's a nickel-size pill, which is a mix of deer antlers and other precious ingredients, known to be good for liver and heat,'' he said.
The price of one pill is 20,000 won and up, depending on what ingredients are used.
``People who take kongjindan only have that _ they know how effective it is for their wellness,'' Han said.
Kumsan Clinic's kongjindan was famous years before, and it is known that former presidents took them.
The clinic has been around for decades with Han's father, grandfather and grandmother being well-known oriental doctors.
His grandmother was former President Rhee Syng-man's physician in charge and his father was the acupuncture specialist for former president Park Chung-hee and for founder of Samsung Group, Lee Byung-chul.
Although his family boasted a medical tradition, Han enrolled in college as a law student. He wanted to become a lawyer, but when his grandmother passed away, she left a will for him to follow.
``She said that I must become an oriental medicine doctor,'' he said. ``And I decided to follow her advice.''
Since then, Han jumped into the field with both feet and developed ways to combine Western and oriental medicine so that patients can approach life in a better and healthier way.
Skin treatment is one area in which the doctor invested much time and effort, and thanks to that, he currently sees a long list of celebrity patients.
Star singer Lee Hyo-ri, diet enthusiast Ock Ju-hyun, actor-turned-singer Eric, members of boyband SS501, soccer players Seol Ki-hyeon and Lee Dong-gook are some of his returning patients.
``Inner and outer body care is very important,'' Han said. ``If you're not doing well inside, then it's bound to show on the outside, so I would advise men and women to check their inner health first before making quick decisions about outer looks.''