Compared to the past, modern people enjoy healthier lives thanks to advances in medical technology, but many people still lack equal access to healthcare. Dr. Lee Jong-wook has dedicated his life to improving healthcare in developing countries, leading international health as Director-General of the WHO, and his work has had a profound impact on many.

Modern medical advances and health inequality

Compared to the past, modern people certainly enjoy a more affluent life, and advances in medical technology have made it possible to treat diseases that were previously intractable. For example, diseases such as infectious diseases and cancer, which used to be fatal, have been able to save many people’s lives thanks to modern medical technology. And, of course, medical technology continues to improve day by day, contributing to the longevity and health of humanity. People now value not just living longer, but also living a healthy and quality life.
However, it is an undeniable fact that not everyone has equal access to healthcare. In fact, we often hear about people dying in Africa because of the lack of even the most affordable medicines. This shows that there is a huge problem with the distribution and accessibility of healthcare resources. Healthcare that is easily accessible in developed countries remains a huge problem in developing and low-income countries.
Many organizations and people around the world have tried and are trying to solve this problem. Among them, the late Dr. Jong-Wook Lee, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), is known for his advocacy for healthcare in developing countries. Dr. Jong-Wook Lee was born in 1945, during a time when many people were suffering from the Korean War. Growing up in this environment and seeing people struggling with poverty and disease, he decided to dedicate his life to serving them. He enrolled in Seoul National University’s engineering program, but after graduating, he returned to Seoul National University’s medical school to study, and then went on to graduate school at the University of Hawaii to further study epidemiology.

Dr. Jong-Wook Lee’s achievements and dedication

From 1981, Dr. Lee spent two years caring for Hansen’s disease patients on the island of Samoa in the South Pacific. This was the beginning of his medical service to the underserved in remote areas of the world. Dr. Lee’s relationship with the World Health Organization began in 1983. His lifelong commitment to global healthcare began in 1983, when he served in various capacities at WHO, including as the head of the South Pacific Leprosy Control Team, Director of the Department of Disease Prevention and Control in the Western Pacific Regional Office, Director of the Geneva Headquarters, Director of the Department of Vaccines and Immunization, Director of the Department of Information and Communication, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Director of the Department of Tuberculosis, and finally, in 2003, he was elected as the sixth Director-General. This was a very significant and proud moment for him, as he was the first Korean to head a UN organization. Dr. Lee Jong-wook was very active as Secretary-General until his sudden death in 2006, when he collapsed from overwork.
Dr. Jong-Wook Lee has been called many things in his lifetime. As Director of the Department of Immunization at WHO headquarters, he worked to improve vaccine access in developing countries. In the fight against AIDS, he worked to provide anti-AIDS virus treatments to developing countries, and he also worked to prevent the spread of AI, prevent polio and tuberculosis, and control smoking. By 1995, he had reduced the risk of contracting polio or tuberculosis to less than 1 in 10,000 people worldwide. This earned him the title of “Emperor of Vaccines” by the American science magazine Scientific American.

Dr. Jong-Wook Lee’s leadership and influence

He was also known as a man of action. “If you don’t act, nothing will get done, no one will help you, no financial support will increase, and you will give up and fail before you even start, which is as bad as trying to do something and failing,” he said, calling for proactive action even in difficult circumstances.
In addition, Dr. Lee lived a simple and modest life despite his enormous power as the head of the World Health Organization. Although the Director-General is customarily honored as a head of state, he drove a 1500cc hybrid car as his personal vehicle, saying, “I can’t be lavish with that money when there are contributions from poor countries,” and always insisted on flying in second class instead of first class. He didn’t even own an apartment. Because he spent his life serving the poor and marginalized, people called him the Schweitzer of Asia.

Dr. Lee’s legacy

Dr. Lee Jong-wook also accomplished a great deal by following his firm belief of “do what you think is right”. It is no exaggeration to say that Dr. Lee has made remarkable progress in improving health and preventing disease in underdeveloped countries. Although Dr. Lee Jong-wook has passed away, his philanthropic and service spirit continues to influence many people. The Korea Foundation for International Health and Medical Care is working to create the next Lee Jong-wook through education, and the Lee Jong-wook-Seoul Project, named after him, aims to strengthen health care in developing countries. Dr. Lee Jong-wook will long be remembered in the Korean medical community as a warm-hearted physician who devoted his life to lending a helping hand to suffering people in remote areas, and as a cool-headed doctor who excelled as the head of an international organization with his administrative skills and leadership.
Dr. Lee’s life and work teach important lessons that many people today should emulate. By acting on his convictions, dedicating his energy to where it is most needed, and making an impact not just as a physician, but as a leader in global health. His dedication and service still inspire many, and his name will continue to shine in the field of international health for years to come.