By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Former President Kim Young-sam has been hospitalized for lung surgery, his aide said.
Kim, 81, had an operation Tuesday because of a hemothorax, which refers to a condition of blood accumulating in the pleural cavity.
``He contracted pleurisy as he would play badminton in mornings,'' said Kim Ki-soo, the former President's chief secretary. ``Sometimes this kind of thing happens to those who do excessive exercise early in the morning.''
Saying he is now fine, the aide explained that the former President will recover after taking a break for three or four days.
The secretary added the medical checkup last month found him in good condition.
Kim, the youngest person to be elected a lawmaker at the age of 26, served as president between 1993 and 1998.