HEALTH-MERS/SOUTH KOREA-SAMSUNG Samsung Group heir apparent issues rare public apology for failing to stop MERS

Record ID: 152046

  • Title: HEALTH-MERS/SOUTH KOREA-SAMSUNG Samsung Group heir apparent issues rare public apology for failing to stop MERS
  • Date: 23rd June 2015
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JUNE 23, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SAMSUNG GROUP HEIR APPARENT AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, JAY Y. LEE, WALKING INTO VENUE FOR NEWS CONFERENCE AND STANDING AT PODIUM JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE SAMSUNG MEDICAL CENTER PRESIDENT SONG JAE-HOON (LEFT) AND OFFICER FROM SAMSUNG (RIGHT) STANDING AT NEWS CONFERENC
  • Embargoed: 8th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAC7TZ189SOYC6BW4J5U6OWHEJL
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The heir-apparent of South Korea's massive Samsung Group on Tuesday (June 23) apologised for having failed to stop the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) at a Seoul hospital run by a group foundation.
    Speaking from the group's headquarters, his apology was broadcasted live across the country.
    About half of the 175 MERS cases in South Korea have been traced to Samsung Medical Center, tarnishing the image of one of the country's most prestigious hospitals.
    Jay Y. Lee, the only son of Samsung Group head Lee Kun-hee, said the conglomerate would do everything it could to stop the outbreak and revamp the care system at Samsung Medical Center, located in Seoul's wealthy Gangnam district.
    "Our Samsung Medical Center was unable to stop the MERS infection and its spread, and caused too much suffering and concern to the public. I bow my head in apology," Lee said in a rare public appearance. He is set to lead the country's largest family-run conglomerate, or chaebol.
    "We have failed to live up to the expectation and trust of the public," Lee added.
    Lee, who turned 47 on Tuesday, became vice chairman of group flagship Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. in 2012 and is expected to take the reins of the company and the overall group from his father, Lee Kun-hee, who has been hospitalised at Samsung Medical Center since a heart attack last year.
    Samsung Medical Center has come under criticism after it was revealed that a MERS patient had been in its emergency ward for two-and-a-half days before being diagnosed, coming into contact with nearly 900 people, including staff.
    It later suspended most of its services after an emergency ward worker was tested positive for the MERS virus after working for a number of days despite having symptoms and coming into contact with more than 200 people.
    South Korea's health ministry said on Tuesday 54 people who had tested positive for the virus have recovered and been discharged from hospital.
    There have been 27 deaths in the MERS outbreak, mostly elderly patients or people who had existing illnesses.
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