Funded by the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), the “Dr. LEE Jong-Wook—Seoul Project in Lao PDR (Lee Jong-Wook Project)” was launched in 2010 to upgrade the educational capacity in medicine at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) in the Lao PDR and to ultimately improve the overall health of the Lao people.
Over a five year period, Seoul National University College of Medicine (SNUCM) worked with UHS to retrain approximately 80 UHS professors at SNUCM. Faculty advisors from SNUCM were also dispatched to UHS to facilitate education and research in Lao PDR. Initially planned as a five year project, plans are in place to extend the program to a total of nine years.

Did you know? The Dr. LEE Jong-Wook – Seoul Project in Lao PRD was inspired by the Minnesota Project

During the 1950s, SNUCM was able to learn advanced medical technology through the “Minnesota Project” using ODA funds from the International Cooperation Administration in the US. This very project had a significant impact on Korea and subsequently inspired the Dr. LEE Jong-Wook – Seoul Project in Lao PDR.
Named after the late LEE Jong-Wook, former Director- General of the World Health Organization, the LEE Jong-Wook project has been hailed as an exemplary model of Korean-designed Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the field of medicine.
As part of the Project, more than 10 UHS faculty members were dispatched to SNUCM in order to advance their medical training and enhance their knowledge in other related fields such as public health policies. To help these UHS participants implement what they learnt at SNUCM back in Laos, the Project provided textbooks as well as lab testing equipment.

The Impact Evaluation lab at KDI School has been evaluating the outcome and impact of the LEE Jong-Wook Project since 2011. A key aspect of this Project was the fact that KDI School used ‘Realtime impact evaluation’ for the first time in Korea for ODA projects. KDI School’s impact evaluation focused on two aspects: a) the learning outcomes of UHS students; and b) improvements to the clinical practices of young physicians in Lao PDR upon graduating from UHS.
The Impact Evaluation Lab at KDI School presented its findings and released a final impact evaluation report on the LEE Jong-Wook Project at the Fraser Place Namdaemun Hotel on June 29, 2016. Professor Taejong KIM, the Managing Director of Development Research and Learning Network at KDI School, began the Seminar with an opening speech and invited KDI School Professor Kye-Woo LEE for a presentation on the “Real-time impact evaluation of the LEE Jong-Wook – Seoul Project in Lao PDR.” Professor Lee then turned the stage over to Ajou University Professor Jeong-Ho KIM for a session on “Analysis on the academic achievements of University of Health Sciences students and the LEE Jong-Wook – Seoul Project in Lao PDR.” The Seminar wrapped up with a discussion session and some Q&As.
According to KDI School’s final report on the LEE Jong-Wook Project, students achieved greater advancement in subject courses taught by recipients of the LEE fellowship compared to subjects taught by non-fellows. Also, results indicated that the LEE Jong-Wook Project indeed led to better health care for the Lao people. One thing that remains to be seen, however, is whether the LEE Jong-Wook Project is cost-effective enough compared to other alternative programs. Given its findings, KDI School recommended that the Project should be scaled up. The School also urged SNUCM to measure the knowledge of participants before and after the program more rigorously in order to obtain a more accurate idea regarding the impact of the Project.
Meanwhile, the Impact Evaluation Lab at KDI School was established in 2011 in order to support evidence-based policymaking using objective and scientific research on the outcome of ODA projects. Recently, KDI School signed an agreement to evaluate the impact of ODA projects by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The Lab helps policymakers make informed decisions about the ODA projects they undertake and develop measures to improve the services they extend to developing countries around the world.

By External Relations and Development Division