Ex-Samsung chairman's legacy drives efforts to combat infectious diseases

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan speaks during the second Lee Kun-hee International Symposium for Infectious Diseases Research at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of KDCA

The late former Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s legacy is driving Korea’s efforts to combat infectious diseases, with a 1 trillion won ($664 million) donation by his bereaved family being used to expand research infrastructure, build a specialized hospital and support treatment costs for children.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and the National Medical Center held the second Lee Kun-hee International Symposium for Infectious Diseases Research (LISID) at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul from Thursday to Friday.

The event is part of the government’s initiative to support efforts to combat infectious diseases through the donations from the Lee family in 2021. Lee had repeatedly emphasized the importance of human health and quality of life during his lifetime, and his family made the donation in honor of his vision.

Of the total 1 trillion won donation, 700 billion won was allocated to the infectious disease response initiative. Of this, 200 billion won is funding the expansion of related infrastructure, including research support for the development of vaccines and therapeutics.

The KDCA held the inaugural LISID last year to share research outcomes and raise awareness about the agency's infectious disease response program.

“Last year, with a generous contribution from the family of the late chairman Lee Kun-hee, we launched the infectious disease research capacity building initiative,” KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan said during Thursday’s opening remarks.

“It was more than a program, it was a pledge to elevate the national response system to new level. … One year on, we have moved decisively from launch to implementation and expansion. Through strategic partnerships with institutions including the National Institute of Health, we aim to accelerate the vaccine clinical trials, and advance public vaccine development for diseases such as smallpox, mpox, COVID-19 variants and avian influenza.”

As part of the program, the National Institute of Health and the National Medical Center are carrying out 10 research projects, including building clinical research infrastructure for pandemic response and strengthening essential medical services based on pandemic scenarios. They also plan to continue identifying new projects to further advance related research.

Another 500 billion won is also being used to build Korea’s first dedicated infectious disease hospital.

The central infectious disease hospital will have 150 beds and feature advanced facilities, including general and intensive care units, high-level negative pressure isolation rooms, a negative pressure operating room and biosafety laboratories.

Under the goal of establishing a world-class facility, the project is currently in the final design phase, with construction set to begin in the first half of next year and completion targeted for 2030.

The Lee family also donated 300 billion won to support research on pediatric cancer and rare diseases, as well as to cover medical costs for children affected by such conditions.

Through this initiative, a total of 86 research projects on pediatric cancer and rare diseases are currently under way, with the cumulative number of beneficiaries reaching around 28,000 as of the end of 2025.

Among the beneficiaries is an 8-year-old girl who was suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She had undergone multiple rounds of cancer treatments but could no longer continue due to side effects.

She was treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy produced by Seoul National University Hospital. The treatment is a personalized immune cell therapy that selectively targets cancer cells, but it is highly expensive. After receiving the treatment through the donation, no cancer cells have been detected in tests for minimal residual disease for one year.

Kang Hyoung-jin, a professor at Seoul National University Hospital who led the treatment, said, “Pediatric cancer often receives limited research funding due to the relatively small number of patients, and the donation is being put to very meaningful use.”

A Samsung official said: “The donation reflects the late chairman’s belief that no child should lose their life due to financial problems.”