Lee Hae-chan, the senior vice chair of the National Unification Advisory Council who served as prime minister during the Participatory Government, fell into critical condition while on a business trip to Vietnam. After the news broke, President Lee Jae-myung decided to dispatch political adviser Cho Jung-sik to the scene.
According to political circles on the 23rd, the presidential office recognized the situation regarding the vice chair as grave and decided to dispatch political adviser Cho to the scene.
The vice chair is a symbolic figure with significant standing in the democratic camp. The vice chair is a seven-term lawmaker who even served as prime minister during the Participatory Government. It appears this is why the decision was made to dispatch special adviser Cho, a six-term lawmaker.
Special adviser Cho is said to be leaving for Vietnam early in the morning on the 24th. Figures from the Democratic Party of Korea, including Rep. Lee Jae-jung, were also said to be heading there as soon as flights are arranged.
The vice chair reportedly showed symptoms of weakened breathing during the business trip to Ho Chi Minh City that day and was transported by ambulance to the emergency room while receiving CPR. Local cardiac specialists diagnosed a myocardial infarction and were said to have performed a procedure to insert a stent in the vice chair.