An acupuncture needle as long as seven centimeters was found in the lungs of former President of South Korea, Roh Tae Woo. No doubt, this invention stir the world of alternative medicine in Korea.
Reporting from the page the JoongAng Daily, Thursday, May 12, 2011, the acupuncture needle was discovered last month by a doctor who was inspecting Roh Tae Woo suffered severe cough. Finally, through an operation, the acupuncture needle was successfully removed from the body's 78 year old man.
Reportedly, the needle was stuck by an acupuncturist who does not have official permission from the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine (AKOM). According to a statement from Association of Korean Oriental Medicine, the unnamed perpetrator is a student of a leading South Korean acupuncturist, Kim Nam-soo, 96.
Based on the results of the investigation, the needle is put out from the lungs to the right of Roh Tae Woo is the type of needles used for training in acupuncture training center Tmsarang, ie needle-like tube. According Association of Korean Oriental Medicine, needle type is rarely used for acupuncture. Most of the acupuncturist uses a needle-shaped coils.
Kim Nam-soo, wrote Association of Korean Oriental Medicine, was also not constitute an official acupuncturist. Kim by association is otherwise not competent, because even though Kim has a license to perform acupuncture, but he has not pocketed permission moxibustion. Moxibustion is the science of heat the needles using moxa smoke or plants.
Kim Nam-soo became famous after doing the practice of acupuncture to former President Kim Young-sam. Now he has retired from the world of acupuncture and only works as a teacher.
Over this incident, Association of Korean Oriental Medicine urged the government to close the illegal alternative treatment facilities and banned the sale of acupuncture needles to the public who are not practitioners.