Choi Seo-won's daughter pleads for help with hospital bills of W10m every few weeks

Jeong Yu-ra, the daughter of Choi Seo-won — formerly known as Choi Soon-sil — whose prison sentence has been suspended due to deteriorating health, has appealed for help covering her mother's medical bills. Jeong said hospital costs run about 10 million won ($7,510) every two to three weeks, and that more than 50 million won will be needed to keep her mother hospitalized through late February. "The hospital billing office calls ten times a day and has come in person demanding payment," she said.

Jeong appeared Thursday on a live broadcast of the YouTube channel "Lee Young-don TV," where she gave an update on Choi's condition at a major Seoul hospital.

According to Jeong, Choi recently fell into critical condition after developing sepsis, prompting an emergency suspension of her sentence and a transfer to an outside hospital. Choi has undergone shoulder surgery and two back surgeries, but inflammation pressing on the spinal nerves has left her unable to use her lower body or control her bladder and bowels.

Choi's sentence suspension has been extended through late February next year, but Jeong said she has no way to cover the mounting bills.

"My mother's assets were auctioned off for surcharges and fines, and prosecutors took everything," Jeong said. "I've even pulled out the deposit on my own home to pay the hospital — I have nothing left. If I could, I would sell my own organs to keep my mother in that hospital."

Jeong also warned that her mother's sentence suspension is conditional on remaining hospitalized. "If she can't pay and gets discharged, the suspension is immediately revoked and she goes straight back to Cheongju Prison," Jeong said. "If she's thrown out, she could die." At the end of the broadcast, Jeong knelt before the camera and pleaded, "Please help us keep her in the hospital just until February."