President Lee Myung-bak expressed the hope Friday that former President Kim Dae-jung, who is undergoing treatment at Seoul's Severance Hospital for pneumonia, will recover soon.
Presidential chief of staff Chung Chung-kil conveyed President Lee's message to Kim during a visit to the hospital.
Chung met with Kim's wife, Lee Hee-ho, and his aides, and presented potted flowers as a gift.
During the meeting, Rep. Park Jie-won told Chung that Kim is recovering gradually.
On July 16, President Lee sent Maeng Hyung-kyu, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, to the hospital to convey his wishes for Kim's recovery.
In 2005, Kim was hospitalized after showing similar symptoms.