First lady Kim Keon Hee on Nov. 12 takes a photo with Aok Rotha, a Cambodian boy with congenital heart disease, at his house in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Office of the President) 

First lady sends video message to Cambodian boy set for heart surgery

By Park Hye Ri

First lady Kim Keon Hee has sent a video message to encourage Aok Rotha, 14, a Cambodian boy scheduled to undergo surgery in Korea for congenital heart disease. 

Deputy presidential spokesperson Lee Jae-myoung on Dec. 2 in a written briefing quoted the first lady as saying in the video sent late last month," I'm pleased to see you act so mature ahead of your big surgery," adding, "I will pray hard and support you."

In their first meeting, she encouraged the child and promised to see him again after he regains his health, the spokesperson said, with Rotha recording a video response saying, "Thank you for helping me get treatment."

During President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to Cambodia last month, his wife on Nov. 12 went to Rotha's home. After hearing about a sick boy unable to be at a hospital she was visiting in Phnom Penh, the first lady the next day visited his house instead of touring the temple complex Angkor Wat with other spouses of world leaders.  

Since their first meeting, the first lady is known to have kept in touch with the boy until his arrival in Korea for treatment. The Office of the President said Rotha on the morning of Dec. 2 was admitted to a Seoul hospital for his surgery. 

hrhr@korea.kr