By Duncan Mackay

IOC member Lee Kun-hee has been moved to a general ward following heart surgery ©Getty ImagesInternational Olympic Committee (IOC) member Lee Kun-hee, the chairman of Samsung, has been moved from an intensive care unit to a general ward following emergency heart surgery earlier this month.


Officials at the Samsung Medical Center (SMC) in Seoul released the latest report following a South Korean media report that the 72-year-old, an IOC member since 1996, had died went viral across the internet.

"All test results show he is stable, as explained before," a spokesman for Samsung told South Korean news agency Yonhap News. 

"As his conditions Improved significantly, he was transferred to the general ward on Monday."

But a spokeswoman for Samsung refused to confirm whether or not Lee had regained consciousness.

Lee Kun-hee (right) after signing a deal for with then International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge to extend Samsung's sponsorship of the Olympic Games ©SamsungLee Kun-hee (right) after signing a deal with then International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge to extend Samsung's sponsorship of the Olympic Games ©Samsung

Lee is now being treated in a VIP ward, on the 20th floor of the hospital, which is being protected by six security guards. 

Lee's wife Hong Ra-hee, his only son Jay-yong, and two daughters Boo-jin and Seo-hyun are currently regularly visiting or staying with him, an official from the SMC said. 

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