[Asia Exclusive] 'Bulyoung and Bulhaeng' Leadership Through Letters That Comfort from the Organization

Director Lee Eui-kyung of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety...

Support and Encouragement Messages via Letter During Mask Shortage and End of 5-Day Rotation System

Lee Eui-kyung, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] "Each and every one of you makes me truly proud. Stay strong. I will also work harder together with you."

Lee Ui-kyung, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), sent a letter containing these words to employees on March 6, the day after the first announcement of the 'Mask 5-Day Rotation System.' At that time, the MFDS was under pressure to immediately come up with solutions as mask shortages occurred nationwide due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

As soon as the mask supply stabilization measures were prepared, Commissioner Lee immediately began to comfort the organization. In his letter, he referenced Mencius's phrase '불영과불행 (不盈科不行)' and said, "The difficult days we endure today will serve as a lesson for the MFDS to become a trusted institution by the public," adding, "I sincerely support and deeply thank the MFDS family who do their best with a sense of mission in their respective positions." The phrase 불영과불행 means "When water flows and meets a puddle, it fills the puddle completely before moving forward."

The day after the end of the Mask 5-Day Rotation System on March 13, Commissioner Lee once again took up his pen. He said, "The public's criticism has turned into encouragement," and "Because I trusted each individual's capabilities, I was not lonely, and knowing their endless sweat gave me confidence."

Commissioner Lee, a former professor, was deeply impressed by the employees' 'yeolil' (a newly coined term meaning 'working hard') mode after starting his public service career. This was the background that allowed him to fully devote himself to the COVID-19 crisis this year, following a tough initiation with the 'Invossa incident' shortly after his appointment in March last year.

Recognized as a first-generation social pharmacist in Korea, Commissioner Lee is evaluated to have played a significant role in the success of K-quarantine by focusing his capabilities on the development of diagnostic kits, therapeutics, and vaccines. Born in 1962, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in pharmacy from Seoul National University and obtained a Ph.D. in pharmacy from the University of Iowa in the United States. Based on his expertise accumulated through research activities at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, Sookmyung Women's University, and Sungkyunkwan University, he is promoting the competitiveness of domestic food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics on the international stage.

◆ Commissioner Lee Ui-kyung's Career

Born in Seoul, 1962

Graduated from Seoul National University, Department of Pharmacy, 1985

Master's degree in Pharmacy, Seoul National University, 1987

Ph.D. in Pharmacy, University of Iowa, USA, 1990

Senior Research Fellow, Health Policy Research Team, Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, 1991

Director of Health and Medical Research Office, Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, 2000

Associate Professor, Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, 2006

Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Industry, Sungkyunkwan University, 2012

President, Korean Society of Health Technology Assessment, 2013

President, Korean Society of Health and Social Pharmacy Management, 2015

Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, March 2019 ? present

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