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1945. 04. 12 Born in Bukahyeon-dong, Seoul
1950 Following the outbreak of the Korean War, lived as a refugee in Daegu
1960 Enrolled at Gyeongbok High School
1970 Enrolled in the Pre-Medical Program at the College of Liberal Arts, Seoul National University
1976 Began volunteer work (caring for patients with Hansen’s disease)
1976. 08. Appointed as a contract physician in the Emergency Room at the Gangwon Provincial Medical Center
1976 University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus, Research support for Hansen’s disease
1981 Earned a Ph.D. in Public Health. Joined the clinical staff at Johnson Hospital in the small island nation of Samoa. Began volunteer work at the WHO Regional Office
1983 WHO South Pacific Regional Office: Began career in international organizations as a Leprosy Advisor
1986 Transferred to the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office in Manila, Philippines, as a Regional Advisor
1990 Appointed Director of the Department of Disease Control at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
1994 Appointed Director-General of the WHO Global Vaccine Program and the Childhood Vaccination Program
2000 Appointed Special Representative to the Director-General at WHO Headquarters and Director of the WHO Tuberculosis Department
2003 First Korean appointed as WHO Director-General; officially launched the 3 by 5 Campaign
2004 Selected by *Time* as one of the 100 Most Influential People for efforts to prevent the spread of avian influenza and eradicate polio and tuberculosis
2004. 12. Completion of the Strategic Health Operations Center (SHOC) at WHO
2005. 02. Entry into force of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
2005 World AIDS Day: Provision of antiretroviral drugs to 1 million people living with HIV
2006. 05. 22. Date of Passing
(Passed away during the World Health Assembly)
The Legacy of the Late
Dr LEE Jong-wook

The journey of Director-General Lee Jong-wook,
the Schweitzer of Asia in the 21st century