CJ Group chairman Lee Jay-hyun was rehospitalized at Seoul National University Hospital on Sunday due to an illness, the group said.

The chairman underwent a kidney transplant in late August and had been recovering at home since his recent discharge from SNU Hospital on Oct. 31, only to re-enter the hospital just 10 days later due to a viral infection, according to CJ officials.

“Chairman Lee had been taking immunosuppressant drugs to aid his recovery from the kidney transplant, which made his immune system vulnerable to other illnesses,” a group official said.

Lee was indicted in July and awaiting trial on charges of embezzlement, tax evasion and creating massive slush funds. But the local court allowed him to receive medical treatment at the request of his lawyer.

“According to the doctor’s diagnosis, the chairman’s health will need to be closely watched for at least an additional six months,” the group official added. “As for the matter of extension of custody suspension, that is something for the defense counsel to decide.”

By Kim Joo-hyun (jhk@heraldcorp.com)