In the global fight against disease, one man demonstrated that compassion and determination could be mobilized on a planetary scale.
On July 21, 2003, a soft-spoken South Korean physician stood before the World Health Assembly as the newly appointed Director-General of the World Health Organization. Lee Jong-wook, who had spent years working directly with some of the world's most marginalized patients, now commanded the world's premier global health institution 5 .
His journey from treating leprosy patients in remote villages to leading the WHO's battle against pandemics would redefine global health diplomacy. Lee pioneered innovative approaches to combat ancient scourges—tuberculosis, polio, and HIV/AIDS—while building unprecedented international coalitions in the service of public health 2 4 .
Lee Jong-wook's path to global health leadership began in the aftermath of war. Born in Seoul in 1945, he experienced the devastation of the Korean War as a child, undertaking a grueling 400-mile walk with his family to reunite with his father 4 . This early exposure to humanitarian crisis would shape his lifelong commitment to serving the most vulnerable.
Born in Seoul, South Korea
Earned medical degree from Seoul National University
Worked in leprosy colonies, met his wife Reiko
Began 23-year career with WHO as leprosy consultant
Appointed director of Global Programme on Vaccines and Immunizations
Led Stop TB Partnership with 250+ international partners
Became WHO Director-General
Died following emergency surgery for a brain blood clot
"He's one of those guys who checks his ego at the door and comes in and listens to the people. He puts the information together and acts skillfully as a result."
Lee's leadership abilities quickly propelled him through WHO's ranks. By 1994, he was appointed to direct the Global Programme on Vaccines and Immunizations in Geneva 2 4 . In this role, he achieved what many thought impossible—drastically reducing polio cases in the Western Pacific from 6,000 annually in 1990 to near zero by 2004 4 .
Perhaps Lee's most ambitious undertaking was his "3 by 5" initiative against HIV/AIDS, launched during his tenure as WHO Director-General 2 . The goal was staggering in its scope: to place three million people in developing countries on antiretroviral treatment by the end of 2005.
Target Patients
Target Year
Countries Visited
The "3 by 5" campaign represented Lee's philosophy that ambitious targets could mobilize action even when perfect success seemed unlikely.
| Health Initiative | Approach | Key Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Polio Eradication | Expanded vaccination programs and surveillance | Near elimination in Western Pacific region (from 6,000 to almost 0 cases) |
| Stop TB Partnership | Coalition-building and directly observed treatment | Coordinated 250+ partners; standardized effective treatments |
| "3 by 5" HIV/AIDS Initiative | Rapid scale-up of antiretroviral therapy | Accelerated treatment access in developing countries |
| Tobacco Control | Framework Convention on Tobacco Control | Established international standards for tobacco taxation and regulation |
| Strategy | Implementation | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Public-Private Partnerships | Engaging pharmaceutical companies in developing world-specific vaccines | Created sustainable markets for neglected disease treatments |
| Coalition Building | Stop TB Partnership with 250+ diverse organizations | Unified fragmented efforts against tuberculosis |
| Ambitious Target Setting | "3 by 5" HIV/AIDS treatment initiative | Mobilized resources and attention despite skepticism |
| Field Epidemiology Training | Epidemic Intelligence Service modeled on CDC program | Built local capacity for outbreak response in developing countries |
Tragically, Lee's transformative leadership was cut short on May 22, 2006, when he died following emergency surgery for a brain blood clot 2 . He had been preparing for United Nations general meetings when he fell ill during a weekend luncheon 2 . The global response testified to his impact.
"The world has lost a great man today. He was a strong voice for the right of every man, woman, and child to health prevention and care, and advocated on behalf of the very poorest people" 2 .
"Dr. Lee worked tirelessly to improve the health of millions of people, from combating tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS to his aggressive efforts to eradicate polio" 2 .
Established by the South Korean government to recognize young leaders in global health 2 . The award motivates and inspires new generations to follow in the path of the soft-spoken physician who never lost sight of medicine's fundamental mission: serving those most in need 2 .
Lee Jong-wook's career demonstrates that the most formidable tools against disease are not merely technological, but human—the combination of scientific knowledge with unwavering determination to reach the most vulnerable. From his early days treating leprosy patients to his final hours leading the global response to health emergencies, he never wavered in his belief that health is a fundamental human right 2 4 .
In an era of increasing global health challenges, Lee's model of leadership—technically rigorous, politically astute, and fundamentally compassionate—remains more relevant than ever. His legacy endures not only in the diseases he helped curb and the systems he strengthened, but in the example he set of what one determined individual can accomplish on behalf of humanity.