US Ambassador Lippert leaves hospital

“After a storm comes a calm. Let’s (Korea and the U.S.) go together,” said U.S. Ambassador to Korea Mark Lippert in Korean on Tuesday, stressing a stronger Korea-U.S. alliance. The diplomat had a press conference at Yonsei University`s Severance Hospital in Seoul before leaving hospital. He said, “It has been incredibly gratifying for me and my family to see such beautiful expressions of empathy and generosity from the Korean people. I will never, never forget that you came to support us during this time of need.”

Mr. Lippert who was attacked in a breakfast meeting on Thursday thanked President Park Geun-hye and both Korean and American citizens who worried for him, saying, “The bottom line is that this incident has only strengthened our love and affection for this country – and our belief in the unbreakable bond that exists between the United States and the Republic of Korea. I am eager to get back to working on this strong and dynamic relationship.”

The hospital said that doctors removed stitches on his face but he needs further treatments due to the pain in his arm. Even after he leaves hospital, doctors will visit the embassy for treatments and examinations at the request of the embassy.

shcho@donga.com