Lee Jae-myung Visits 'National Sorokdo Hospital' as the First Sitting President

President Lee Jae-myung and his spouse visited Sorokdo, a small island with an area of 3.79㎢ located in Doyang-eup, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, for a meeting with Hansen's disease patients. This is the first time a sitting president has visited Sorokdo Hospital.

On the 25th, President Yoon Jeong disclosed through a written briefing that "President Lee Jae-myung visited the National Sorokdo Hospital this morning as the first sitting president, meeting with hospital officials and members of the Hansen's disease residents' self-governing body."

He added, "First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, who visited Sorokdo during the presidential campaign, kept her promise to return with the president once the election was over."

Previously, First Lady Kim Hye-kyung held a private meeting with about ten residents at the National Sorokdo Hospital on the 27th of last month.

At that time, she wrote in the Sorokdo guestbook, "I will remember and cherish the courage and love in the place where lives endured painful times."

Following this, President Lee, who visited Sorokdo with First Lady Kim, toured various parts of the hospital and asked Dr. Oh Dong-chan, the head of the medical department, "I heard that you have been struggling in difficult circumstances, and I thought I should come and see it," adding, "The facilities are old; don't we need a lot of things?"

Dr. Oh expressed gratitude, stating, "I was worried about the roof of the annex leaking, but funds for renovating old facilities have been allocated in this second supplementary budget, for which I am very thankful." He also revealed ongoing challenges related to social prejudice surrounding 'Hansen's disease.'

President Lee stated, "I will deeply contemplate how to reflect the insights I've gained today into policy and put them into practice."

He also highly appreciated the determination of Hansen's disease patients who strive to maintain human dignity and community values amidst suffering, and he paid homage to the noble sacrifices of religious figures and medical staff who have cared for the vulnerable in places untouched by the state.

Image source: President Lee Jae-myung and his spouse comforting Hansen's disease patients during their visit to the National Sorokdo Hospital in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, on the 25th / Photo provided by the Presidential Office, First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visiting Sorokdo on the 27th of last month / News1, President Lee Jae-myung and his spouse having a meeting with officials at the National Sorokdo Hospital in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, on the 25th / News1