Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, on the 23rd regarding the 'special treatment controversy over helicopter transport to Seoul' noted, “Because I need to be hospitalized for a long time, my family suggested that it would be better to be near Seoul, and the medical staff judged that it would be better to transfer me to Seoul National University Hospital.”
After being attacked with a weapon during a campaign rally in Busan in January last year, the candidate was transported to Seoul National University Hospital by emergency medical helicopter, which sparked a controversy over special treatment.
During the second TV debate organized by the National Election Commission on the 23rd, the candidate responded to a question from Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, asking, “Please explain why you traveled to Seoul National University Hospital by a luxury helicopter instead of the nationally top-rated Busan National University Hospital trauma center or your greatest achievement, Seongnam Medical Center.”
The candidate stated, “Seongnam Medical Center focuses on public healthcare, which general hospitals do not, so I think it wouldn't have the capability to perform vascular surgery at that time,” and added, “I haven’t been able to consider it.”
He also added, “You said it was a simple surgery, but the artery was off by 1㎜ and 67% of the vein was cut, so if it had gone just 1㎜ deeper or sideways, I would have been in a situation where I could have died.”
In response, Kim said, “Should everyone who gets hurt in the region be transported by helicopter to Seoul next to their family? I think discussing regional balance a hundred times disregards the regions too much.”