Oriental medicine doctor named presidential physician

A veteran Oriental medicine doctor has been named a presidential physician to look after the health of President Lee Myung-bak, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.

Ryu Bong-ha, head of the Oriental Hospital of Kyunghee University, will work with the existing presidential physician, medical doctor Choi Yoon-sik of Seoul National University Hospital, to care for Lee's health, presidential spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung said.

Ryu, 61, will be formally appointed to the vice minister-level post early next month, Kim said.

The appointment "is also aimed at publicizing the excellence of South Korean Oriental medicine," she said.

Having an Oriental medicine doctor as a presidential physician was first introduced in early 2003 when former late President Roh Moo-hyun came into office. The system of having two presidential doctors was maintained until Roh left office in early 2008.

Since taking office, however, Lee has had only a medical doctor as his physician.

Health Minister Chin Soo-hee asked the presidential office to appoint an Oriental medicine doctor as a presidential physician as part of efforts to publicize the excellence of Korean Oriental medicine. (Yonhap)