- Madame Kim Yoon-ok calls on nations to become IVI 
  Signatories

Madame Kim Yoon-ok, First Lady of the Republic of Korea,
delivers her acceptance speech as she assumes the
third Honorary Presidency of the IVI Korea Support
Committee during the Institute’s 11th anniversary
ceremony at IVI headquarters in Seoul on October 6, 2008.

Madame Kim Yoon-ok, First Lady of the Republic of Korea, was inaugurated as the Honorary President of the Korea Support Committee (KSC) for the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) on October 6, 2008. 

The IVI is an international organization headquartered in Korea. The KSC for the IVI is a non-profit organization committed to improving the welfare of humanity and to enhancing science and technology by supporting the IVI´s humanitarian research. The Committee has 70 members of prominence including former prime ministers.

Madame Kim was appointed as the KSC’s third Honorary President during a ceremony marking the IVI’s 11th Anniversary held at IVI headquarters.  Approximately 150 people participated in the ceremony, including First Lady Kim; ambassadors and diplomats; President Prof. Lee Ho-wang and other members of the KSC; the IVI’s Board of Trustees Vice Chairperson Dr. Margaret Liu; IVI Director-General Dr. John Clemens; and actor Jeong Jun-ho, an IVI Goodwill Ambassador. The ceremony also featured a choral performance by a children’s choir that followed commemorative speeches.

In her acceptance remarks, Madame Kim said, “Despite advances in medicine, 7 million children are dying every year from infectious diseases,” adding, “I will make my utmost efforts to ensure that children will no longer die needlessly from preventable diseases because vaccines are unavailable to them.” She also urged more countries of the world to join in these global humanitarian efforts by becoming signatories to the IVI’s charter.

Madame Kim Yoon-ok holds talks with key participants
at the IVI’s 11th anniversary ceremony. From left: Madame Kim;
Dr. John Clemens, IVI Director-General; Prof. Margaret Liu,
Vice Chairperson of the IVI Board of Trustees; Prof. Lee Ho-wang,
President of the IVI Korea Support Committee; and 
Prof. Lee Jang-moo, President of Seoul National University.

Madame Kim succeeds two predecessors, including former First Ladies Madame Lee Hee-ho and Madame Kwon Yang-suk, in assuming the Honorary Presidency of the KSC. During their terms, Madame Lee and Madame Kwon made far-reaching efforts in support of the IVI, advocating for vaccine research and promoting the Institute in Korea and elsewhere at national gatherings and during their overseas trips.

Prof. Lee of the KSC, the discoverer of Hantavirus and a vaccine against the virus, said, "By accepting this important position at the IVI, Madame Kim Yoon-ok is showing the world her strong commitment to helping the world´s poorest children. Her leadership will greatly contribute to the development of the IVI as a leading center of excellence in global vaccine research.”

Dr. Clemens stated, “The wonderful support of Korea to the IVI is no better typified than by the generosity of Mrs. Kim Yoon-ok in serving as the Honorary President of the KSC.” He added, “On behalf of the IVI and the broader international community, I would like to extend profound gratitude to Korea for its continuous support and generosity since the inception of the IVI.”

The IVI’s host country, Korea, provides a portion of the IVI´s operating budget, as well as its headquarters building with state-of-the-art laboratories.  Aided by this generous Korean support, the IVI has conducted field research in 28 developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to accelerate the introduction of new vaccines over the past decade. The Institute also conducts laboratory research to develop new vaccines at its headquarters in Seoul, and works to develop and introduce vaccines against enteric infections, pneumonia, meningitis, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis. These diseases kill nearly 4 million children annually, primarily in developing countries.