Lee pays visit to Kim Dae-jung in hospital

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from the president, minor edits)
SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday made a surprise
visit to Severance Hospital in western Seoul to wish for the good health of
former President Kim Dae-jung, who has been hospitalized with pneumonia for
nearly a month.
The 85-year-old Kim, who served as president between 1998 and 2003, was admitted
to the hospital on July 13 after showing symptoms of pneumonia and has since
faced a number of critical moments.
On Sunday, Kim's health condition became critical after some of his medical
indicators displayed abnormalities, though he later regained stability.
President Lee had planned an earlier visit to the former head of state, but the
plans were delayed due to Kim's critical condition, according to Lee Dong-kwan, a
spokesman for the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
"He is one of the country's political leaders who has left a large footprint in
our democratization and reconciliation (with North Korea). It is a duty to pay
our respects to him and wish him well," the president was quoted as saying.
Lee's visit came after a number of political heavyweights, including former
president Kim Young-sam, Park Hee-tae, chairman of the ruling Grand National
Party, and Chung Sye-kyun, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party,
rushed to Severance Hospital this week to meet with the ailing politician's wife
and former first lady Lee Hee-ho to offer words of encouragement.
Kim Dae-jung's presidency is highlighted by its engagement policy toward North
Korea that culminated in the first inter-Korean summit in 2000 and Kim's winning
of the Nobel Peace Price in the same year.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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