The 72-year-old, a member of the IOC since 1996, was rushed to hospital earlier this month and given emergency heart surgery.

Doctors at the Samsung Medical Center (SMC) in Seoul are now waiting to discover how much cognitive function he has retained.

"We have seen much progress in his health," said an official at the SMC.

Lee Kun-hee (far left) played a leading role in Pyeongchang's successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics ©Getty Images

Earlier, the Samsung Future Strategy Office had announced in a press release that Lee had suddenly opened his eyes in his bed at the hospital when his family were watching a baseball game between Samsung Lions and Nexen Heroes at his bedside.

It is not known yet whether Lee has started speaking again.

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