In this blog post, we will look at the life and achievements of Dr. Lee Jong-wook, examine his impact on global health, and learn how he contributed to improving health in developing countries.
Advances in modern medical technology and health inequalities
Compared to the past, people today certainly enjoy a more affluent life, and it is true that advances in medical technology have made it possible to treat diseases that were previously incurable. For example, diseases such as infectious diseases and cancer, which were fatal in the past, can now be treated thanks to modern medical technology, saving many lives. And, of course, medical technology continues to advance every day, contributing greatly to extending human life and promoting healthy living. People now value not only living longer, but also living healthy and high-quality lives.
However, it is an undeniable fact that not everyone has equal access to medical care. In fact, we often hear news reports that many people in Africa are dying because they cannot afford even inexpensive medicines. This shows that there are major problems with the distribution of and access to medical resources. Medical services that are easily accessible in developed countries remain a major problem in developing and low-income countries.
In this situation, many organizations and people around the world have been working to solve this problem. Among them, the late Dr. Lee Jong-wook, former Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), is well known for his efforts to improve healthcare in developing countries. Dr. Lee Jong-wook was born in 1945. At the time of his birth, many people were suffering due to the Korean War. Growing up in this environment and seeing people struggling with poverty and disease, he decided to devote his life to serving them. He enrolled in the College of Engineering at Seoul National University, but following his convictions, he re-enrolled in the College of Medicine at Seoul National University after graduation and went on to study infectious diseases in depth at the University of Hawaii.
Dr. Lee Jong-wook’s achievements and dedication
After that, Dr. Lee Jong-wook worked for two years from 1981 on the island of Samoa in the South Pacific, caring for patients with Hansen’s disease. He began providing medical services to people in remote areas of the world who did not have access to proper medical care. Dr. Lee Jong-wook’s relationship with the World Health Organization began in 1983. He worked for the WHO in various positions, including team leader of the South Pacific Leprosy Eradication Team, director of the Department of Disease Prevention and Control in the Western Pacific Region, director of the Geneva Office, director of the Department of Vaccines and Immunization, team leader of the Information Technology Team, and special representative of the Director-General and director of the Department of Tuberculosis, devoting his entire life to global health and medical care. Finally, in 2003, he was elected as the sixth Director-General. This was a very meaningful and proud moment, as he was the first Korean to become the head of a UN agency. Dr. Lee Jong-wook was very active as Director-General, but he collapsed due to overwork in 2006 and died suddenly.
Dr. Lee Jong-wook has many titles to describe his remarkable achievements throughout his life. While working as Director of the Department of Vaccines and Immunization at WHO headquarters, he worked to improve vaccine coverage in developing countries. He launched a project to provide anti-AIDS drugs to developing countries to combat AIDS, and also worked to prevent the spread of AI, prevent polio and tuberculosis, and regulate smoking. As a result, in 1995, he reduced the probability of contracting polio and tuberculosis to less than one in 10,000 people worldwide. For this achievement, he was named “Vaccine Emperor” by the American science magazine Scientific American.
Dr. Lee Jong-wook’s leadership and influence
He was also known as a man of action. “If you don’t act, nothing will be accomplished, no one will help you, and financial support will not increase, so you will end up giving up and becoming frustrated before you even start. This is worse than trying and failing,” he said, urging people to take action even in difficult situations.
Despite his enormous power as the head of the World Health Organization, Dr. Lee lived a simple and modest life. Although it was customary for the Director-General to receive treatment equivalent to that of a head of state, he said, “Poor countries contribute to the organization, so I cannot live luxuriously with that money,” and drove a 1500cc hybrid car and always insisted on flying economy class instead of first class. He is said to have never even owned an apartment. Because he spent his entire life serving the poor and marginalized, people called him the “Schweitzer of Asia.”
The Legacy of Dr. Lee Jong-wook
In addition, Dr. Lee Jong-wook accomplished many things based on his firm belief that “if you think it is right, do it.” It is no exaggeration to say that thanks to Dr. Lee Jong-wook, remarkable achievements were made in promoting the health and preventing diseases of people in developing countries. Although Dr. Lee Jong-wook has passed away, his spirit of philanthropy and service continues to influence many people. The Korea International Health Foundation is conducting an education program with the goal of nurturing a second Lee Jong-wook, and the Lee Jong-wook-Seoul Project, named after him, is also underway with the aim of strengthening health care in developing countries. Lee Jong-wook will be remembered for a long time in the Korean medical community as a warm-hearted doctor who devoted his entire life to helping people in remote areas, and as a cool-headed doctor who played a leading role in international organizations based on his outstanding administrative skills and leadership.
Dr. Lee Jong-wook’s life and achievements leave behind important lessons that many people today should follow. He acted according to his beliefs, devoted himself to those who needed him most, and had a great impact not only as a doctor but also as a leader responsible for global health. His dedication and spirit of service continue to inspire many people, and his name will continue to shine in the field of international health.
