"Jeon Du-hwan Claims Blood Cancer After Vaccination... Government Says 'Investigation Will Follow Procedures'"

Ministry of Health and Welfare: "Adverse Reaction Issues Are Investigated After Reporting"

The appearance of Jeon Du-hwan leaving his home in Yeonhui-dong to attend the appellate trial held in Gwangju on August 9 / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] The government stated on the 24th that it will "investigate through proper procedures" regarding claims from close aides that the cause of death of former President Jeon Du-hwan, who served as the 11th and 12th president and passed away on the 23rd, could be blood cancer caused by side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, responded to related questions at a regular briefing on the 24th, saying, "It is difficult to provide an accurate position at this time."

He added, "If it is an issue related to the effects after (vaccine) inoculation, it will be investigated through procedures such as reporting adverse reactions to vaccination," but also explained, "However, if such procedures are not carried out, there is not much we can judge."

Earlier, Min Jeong-gi, a former Blue House public relations secretary and a close aide of Jeon, claimed in an interview with 'JTBC' on the 23rd, "Former President Jeon Du-hwan developed blood cancer after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. Side effects are suspected."

Min said on the same day, "I visited former President Jeon around June or July, and his face looked very emaciated and he did not appear healthy."

He continued, "He lost more than 10 kg in weight. Then, when he was diagnosed at the hospital, it was leukemia," and mentioned vaccine side effects, saying, "(Former President Jeon) was not the only one; there are quite a few such cases."

However, he said he did not know the exact timing when Jeon received the vaccine.

Meanwhile, it is known that Jeon suffered from 'multiple myeloma,' a type of blood cancer. Multiple myeloma occurs when plasma cells, a type of white blood cell responsible for the immune system in the bone marrow, abnormally differentiate and proliferate. Abnormal antibodies accumulate in the body, causing bones to break easily or induce pain, and increasing the risk of infection and bleeding.

Jeon was admitted to Seoul Sinchon Severance Hospital on August 13 and was diagnosed with multiple myeloma after a bone marrow examination. He was hospitalized for 12 days for treatment, then discharged and subsequently lived at home while taking oral anticancer medication in pill form.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.