Lee Jong-wook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Jong-wook
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이종욱
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Lee in 2005
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| 6th Director-General of the World Health Organization | |
| In office 21 July 2003 – 22 May 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| Succeeded by | Anders Nordström |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 April 1945 Keijō, Keiki-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan |
| Died | 22 May 2006 (aged 61) Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland |
| Resting place | Daejeon National Cemetery, Daejeon, South Korea |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Alma mater | Hanyang University (B.E.) Seoul National University (MD) University of Hawaii (MMed) |
| Profession | Physician |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
이종욱
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| Hanja |
李鍾郁
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| Revised Romanization | I Jong-uk |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yi Chong-uk |
Lee Jong-wook (Hangul: 이종욱; born April 12, 1945 – died May 22, 2006) was a doctor from South Korea. He was the leader, or director-general, of the World Health Organization (WHO) for three years. The WHO is a special agency of the United Nations that works to improve health around the world.
Lee Jong-wook joined the WHO in 1983. He worked on many important projects. These included a worldwide program for vaccines and shots, and efforts to stop tuberculosis. He became the Director-General in 2004. He was the first person from Korea to lead such a big international group. In 2004, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Early Life and Education
Lee Jong-wook was born on April 12, 1945. He was born in Keijō, which is now Seoul, South Korea. At that time, Korea was under Japanese rule.
He studied engineering at Hanyang University. Then, he earned a medical degree from Seoul National University. Later, he got a Master's degree in public health from the University of Hawaii. He was the third of six children in his family.
When he was studying medicine, Lee helped people with leprosy in Anyang, South Korea. There were not many medical places there at the time. He worked as a volunteer, giving his time to help others. He met Kaburaki Reiko, a Japanese woman, who was also volunteering in Korea. They later got married.
Working at the WHO
Lee Jong-wook worked for the World Health Organization (WHO) for 23 years. He worked in different roles and places. His work at WHO began in 1983. He started by helping people with leprosy in Fiji.
He became an advisor on leprosy. Later, he also worked to treat tuberculosis. He also helped give children shots to protect them from many diseases. In 1994, Lee moved to Geneva, Switzerland. He worked at the main WHO office there. He was in charge of prevention and vaccines.
In 1995, he was even called "Vaccine Czar" by Scientific American magazine. This nickname showed how important his work with vaccines was. Lee became a candidate to be the 6th Director-General of WHO.
Here are some of his roles at WHO:
- 1983–2006: Staff member of WHO
- 1994–98: Director of the Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunization
- 1998–99: Senior Policy Adviser to the 5th Director-General
- 1999–2000: Special Representative of the Director-General
- 2003–2006: Director-General of WHO
As Director-General, he said that fighting the worldwide HIV/AIDS outbreak would be a main goal. He wanted his time as leader to make a big difference in this area. He had a plan called "3 by 5." This plan aimed to get HIV/AIDS medicine to many people quickly. Some people thought this plan was too hard to achieve.
During his three years as Director-General, he visited 60 countries. These included Darfur, Sudan, and areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami. He was known as a "man of action." His son, Tadahiro, said his father loved to "experience more, see more, and do more."
Death and Legacy
Lee Jong-wook died on May 22, 2006. He was in the intensive care unit of Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland. He had emergency surgery for a blood clot in his brain. He had been getting ready for meetings at the United Nations when he became ill.
Kofi Annan, who was the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the time, spoke about Lee. He said that the world had lost a great person. He added that Lee was a strong voice for everyone's right to health care. He always supported the poorest people.
President George W. Bush of the United States also spoke about Dr. Lee. He said that Dr. Lee worked very hard to make millions of people healthier. He fought diseases like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. He also worked to get rid of polio. President Bush noted that Dr. Lee helped the world face new health challenges. These included the danger of a flu pandemic.
After his death, the South Korean government gave him a special award. It was called the Hibiscus Cordon of the Order of Civil Merit. He was survived by his wife, Reiko Kaburaki Lee, and their son, Tadahiro Lee. Reiko still volunteers today, helping women and children in Peru.
Memorial Award
The South Korean government created a special award to remember Lee Jong-wook. It is called the Dr Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health. After his death, South Korea's Minister of Health and Welfare announced the award. He asked other countries to join in.
The award began in 2009. It is given each year at the WHO's annual meeting in May. The award honors "young leaders" and people who help manage health, especially during widespread diseases. The goal is to inspire new leaders to follow in Dr. Lee Jong-wook's footsteps.
See also
In Spanish: Lee Jong Wook para niños
- Kyungbock High School
