Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong apologizes for MERS spread from Samsung Medical Center

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (photo) has visited Samsung Medical Center and made an apology for the group’s hospital Samsung Medical Center being a source to spread Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

According to Samsung Group on Friday, the 47-year-old group heir visited the public-private joint MERS countermeasures headquarters on the first basement level of Samsung Medical Center in Seoul in the evening of the previous day. “It is regrettable that Samsung Medical Center has been a source to spread the deadly virus. I will do my best to put an end to the situation,” said Lee. He also made an apology for the parliamentary testimony by a doctor of the hospital that it was not Samsung Medical Center but the nation whose line of defense was penetrated, calling it inappropriate statement.

Vice Chairman Lee was briefed on the current status in anti-epidemic efforts at the war room on the fifth floor of the medical center. Lee also encouraged the medical professionals and hospital staff to fulfill their responsibilities to the fullest and contain the deadly virus soon. After having visited isolation wards on the 16th floor of the main building and the 7th floor of the annex, Lee listened to troubles of nurses and observed installation process of the portable negative pressure equipment and tents (to prevent airborne viruses and bacteria from going outside by decreasing indoor pressure). It is reported that Lee visited the hospital alone without attendants and Song Jae-hoon, chief executive and president of Samsung Medical Center, only accompanied Lee during the tour.

On Wednesday, Samsung Group released an official statement containing thorough self-reflection from the presidential board meeting with most of the group subsidiaries’ presidents attended including Corporate Strategy Office chief Choi Gee-sung (Vice Chairman). Samsung Group has promised to exert all-out efforts to contain the epidemic and settle the situation.

Lee’s visit to the hospital on the very next day is interpreted as his commitment to fulfill his responsibility as a de-facto head of the Group. Lee is also the chairman of Samsung Life Public Welfare Foundation, which is responsible for operation of Samsung Medical Center.

drake007@donga.com