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Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrives at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital on Sept. 16

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye underwent shoulder surgery on the morning of Sept. 17 after being hospitalized at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital the day before, emerging from her detention center two years and six months after being imprisoned over her role in a government influence-peddling scandal. Park’s physicians said she would require around three months of physical therapy.

The hospital, which is located in the Banpo neighborhood of Seoul’s Seocho District, said in a briefing that afternoon that Park’s shoulder operation “finished smoothly,” adding that she would “need around three months of physical therapy due to multiple symptoms including adhesive capsulitis as well as a torn rotator cuff tendon.” After complaining of pain in her left arm and shoulders, Park was admitted for surgery at 8:26 that morning. The operation was completed at 10:30 am, and Park proceeded to the recovery room before being placed in the second VIP wing on the hospital’s 21st floor.

“Suturing was performed on two of the five rotator cuff tendons in former President Park’s left shoulder which were torn, and adhesion loosening was performed to reduce pain from adhesive capsulitis and arthritis,” explained Kim Yang-su, an orthopedic surgeon who serves as Park’s attending and operating physician, in a briefing.

“Typically, this requires at least three months of outpatient treatment and physical therapy, and the decision was made to admit her due to difficulties taking the physical therapy equipment into the detention center,” Kim explained.

Park is expected to wear a brace for the next four weeks as she undergoes physical therapy with passive devices. A decision on whether to continue her hospitalization based on her progress is expected to be made in eight weeks. Hospital costs are being paid at Park’s own expense.

By Seon Dam-eun, staff reporter

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