Kim Hea Kyung, first lady of South Korea, was diagnosed with an inner ear disorder that causes vertigo and will be unable to attend a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Busan on Tuesday.
According to Lee's chief physician Park Sang-min on Tuesday, Kim was diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Monday evening and was recommended to rest for at least two or three days to let symptoms subside and prevent trips and falls.
A medical maneuver to reposition a displaced calcium stone inside her right inner ear was carried out, along with medications to reduce the remaining symptoms, Park said, but she was still experiencing dizziness as of Tuesday morning.
"After treatment for BPPV, Kim needs to continue limiting movements of her head and reduce daily activity. Therefore, Kim was unable to perform her official duties today," Park told reporters.
Later on Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a note to reporters that Kim had to skip a ceremony held by the International Vaccine Institute that day to celebrate her new role as honorary president of IVI's Korea Support Committee.
The presidential office asked for understanding of Kim's absence from both of Tuesday's events, Kang added.
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