After CPR, Lee's condition stabilizes, the group says
By Kim Yoo-chul
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) late Saturday night in a Seoul hospital after suffering a heart attack, according to company officials Sunday.
The 73-year-old business tycoon then underwent an angioplasty procedure to reopen narrowed arteries, they said, adding that his condition was stable.
"Emergency measures were properly performed, his health isn't in a critical situation," said a senior Samsung executive by telephone.
Samsung Medical Center (SMC), where Lee is being treated, said Lee is recovering in a "VIP room" at the center's main building, declining to comment on whether he was in intensive care.
But Samsung sources said he was being treated in the intensive care unit of the hospital's cardiovascular department as of late Sunday night.
Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, the chairman's only son and heir-apparent interrupted his trip to the United States and rushed back to Seoul to see his father.
According to company officials, Lee was admitted to Soonchunhyang University Hospital near his residence in Hannam-dong at around 10:55 p.m., Saturday.
He had difficulty in breathing, which doctors attributed to the narrowed arteries in his heart. Then, his heart stopped, prompting the medical team to resuscitate him.
He then was moved to SMC, a Samsung subsidiary in southern Seoul at around 12:15 a.m. The doctors inserted stents to help Lee's heart function properly.
An SMC spokesman said that the chairman didn't have heart surgery.
"The procedure didn't take long. He isn't in a critical situation," said another Samsung official.
SMC hurriedly cancelled a briefing without a reason, triggering more speculation about Lee's state of health.
"We canceled it because his condition is not critical," said the SMC spokesman.
Lee is on an intravenous drip, the hospital said, declining to comment how long he will have to stay in hospital. Lee didn't show prior symptoms of blocked arteries.
Samsung is in emergency mode, and all top Samsung executives including its corporate strategy office head Choi Gee-sung visited the hospital.
"Choi and other senior Samsung executives were briefed with the latest updates on the chairman's condition and discussed the next steps," said the official.
Lee was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2000 and had surgery.
He was hospitalized for some 10 days in August last year at the center due to a case of pneumonia, again raising concerns about his health.
In his public appearances, Lee is either helped by aides or uses a wheelchair.
Lee winters overseas to prevent respiratory ailments. He returned to Seoul in April after months away in the U.S.
Besides Jae-yong, Lee's daughters Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun are heavily involved in the management of Samsung affiliates in what is widely seen as a three-way divide of the group as part of his succession plan.
By Kim Yoo-chul
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| Lee Kun-hee Samsung Electronics Chairman |
The 73-year-old business tycoon then underwent an angioplasty procedure to reopen narrowed arteries, they said, adding that his condition was stable.
"Emergency measures were properly performed, his health isn't in a critical situation," said a senior Samsung executive by telephone.
Samsung Medical Center (SMC), where Lee is being treated, said Lee is recovering in a "VIP room" at the center's main building, declining to comment on whether he was in intensive care.
But Samsung sources said he was being treated in the intensive care unit of the hospital's cardiovascular department as of late Sunday night.
Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, the chairman's only son and heir-apparent interrupted his trip to the United States and rushed back to Seoul to see his father.
According to company officials, Lee was admitted to Soonchunhyang University Hospital near his residence in Hannam-dong at around 10:55 p.m., Saturday.
He had difficulty in breathing, which doctors attributed to the narrowed arteries in his heart. Then, his heart stopped, prompting the medical team to resuscitate him.
He then was moved to SMC, a Samsung subsidiary in southern Seoul at around 12:15 a.m. The doctors inserted stents to help Lee's heart function properly.
An SMC spokesman said that the chairman didn't have heart surgery.
"The procedure didn't take long. He isn't in a critical situation," said another Samsung official.
SMC hurriedly cancelled a briefing without a reason, triggering more speculation about Lee's state of health.
"We canceled it because his condition is not critical," said the SMC spokesman.
Lee is on an intravenous drip, the hospital said, declining to comment how long he will have to stay in hospital. Lee didn't show prior symptoms of blocked arteries.
Samsung is in emergency mode, and all top Samsung executives including its corporate strategy office head Choi Gee-sung visited the hospital.
"Choi and other senior Samsung executives were briefed with the latest updates on the chairman's condition and discussed the next steps," said the official.
Lee was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2000 and had surgery.
He was hospitalized for some 10 days in August last year at the center due to a case of pneumonia, again raising concerns about his health.
In his public appearances, Lee is either helped by aides or uses a wheelchair.
Lee winters overseas to prevent respiratory ailments. He returned to Seoul in April after months away in the U.S.
Besides Jae-yong, Lee's daughters Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun are heavily involved in the management of Samsung affiliates in what is widely seen as a three-way divide of the group as part of his succession plan.
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