For the past 20 years, Violinist Sang Hee Lee has dedicated herself to organizing and leading the ‘Lee Sang Hee and Friends concert with IVI’ to support vaccine development and delivery in developing countries. The event brings together more than 100 performers, volunteers, donors and organizers in August every year. IVI interviewed four dedicated student members of the orchestra.

Introduction

Suh Mann-Bok

Hello, I’m Suh Mann-Bok, an 11th grader at MCA International School. Since 2022, I’ve been the clarinet concert master for the concert with IVI, ending each event with the slogan ‘I Love IVI and I Love all the people who love IVI.’ This year, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of this concert series. As a lead clarinetist, I contribute to the orchestra’s harmony, which symbolizes unity and mutual support. I’m proud of IVI’s vaccine development efforts and will continue to encourage broader participation in this important cause.

Jooha Kim

Hello, I’m Jooha Kim, a 10th grader at MICA International Scholar. Since 2019, I’ve served as a violist in the concert organized in collaboration with IVI. This year, I’m honored to be part of the 20th anniversary celebration. The viola, known for its rich, mid-to-low tones, enhances the orchestra’s harmony, much like how I aim to support and lead my peers. My role as an IVI Giving Messenger has deepened my understanding of leadership and responsibility, which I also apply in my school activities. Alongside my cousin, I am actively participating in the SAM fundraising and advocacy campaign and plan to encourage more friends to join this meaningful activity. Moving forward I will continue to devote myself to promoting the value of sharing through my contributions to both the IVI concert and the SAM campaign.

Joowon Hong

Hello, I’m Joowon Hong, a sophomore at Saint Paul Preparatory Seoul, serving as the concertmaster and violin soloist with Lee Sang Hee & Friends. Since 2018, I’ve worked alongside my brother and been inspired by my violin teacher Lee Sang Hee’s philanthropy. As her longest-standing student, I have witnessed the concert grow from a small-scale event into a significant platform for donations. My involvement has been especially meaningful during the pandemic, as it highlighted the importance of vaccines for public health and freedom. This year’s 20th anniversary concert was a significant milestone. I’m committed to supporting IVI through the SAM campaign and will continue to advocate for the value of sharing and vaccine research.

Jaewoon Joung

Hello, I’m Jaewoon Joung, a sophomore at Seoul Academy International High School. I am poster designer and violin soloist in Lee Sang Hee & Friends since 2019. I contribute my talents by designing posters and merchandise to promote the meaning of the concert with IVI. It’s incredibly rewarding to see more and more friends being inspired by my work and joining in on talent donation. This year, I inserted my poster design into t-shirt and ecobag to commemorate the 20th anniversary for Lee Sang Hee& Friends with IVI concert. It is always my pleasure to join as a member of this concert.

Q1. What does it mean to be a Giving Ambassador for IVI?

(Answered by Jaewoon Joung)

In 2018, after 15 years of dedicated concerts, Lee Sang Hee & Friends were appointed as IVI’s Giving Ambassador. This year, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Lee Sang Hee & Friends Concert with IVI. Looking back, I’m proud to see nearly 100 people now joining us on this journey. I’m committed to raising awareness about IVI’s work and encouraging more people to get involved. We never include the word ‘philanthropy’ in our concert titles, a point Sang Hee Lee always emphasizes. Our focus is on supporting IVI with love and sincerity, not seeking recognition. It’s about putting our beliefs into action. Lee Sang Hee & Friends will always strive to honor these values and remain devoted to IVI’s mission, not just for this anniversary, but always.

Q2. What is the significance of philanthropy to Lee Sang Hee and Friends?

(Answered by Jooha Kim)

Sang Hee Lee emphasized that philanthropy should be regarded not as a mere act but as a continual educational and lifestyle practice. I was deeply moved to learn that during the 2019 concert, despite battling breast cancer, she postponed surgery to continue with the event without telling anyone. Her actions showed that giving and volunteering are within reach of anyone willing to make the effort, and that true sharing begins with such intentions.

We’ve come to understand that philanthropy goes beyond financial contributions—it’s about continuous engagement and collaboration. Over the past six years, I’ve introduced my cousins and friends to this cause, helping to expand participation in philanthropy, where giving is a collective effort with true meaning.

As Giving Messengers for IVI, we are committed to demonstrating generosity and humanistic values through sustained donations and active participation. I believe genuine trust is built through small acts of consideration, leading to true sharing and unity. Playing the viola in the orchestra has deepened my appreciation for harmony and unity. Like the viola, which supports and enhances other instruments, I aim to quietly contribute to society, promoting mutual respect and consideration. Moving forward, I will continue to apply these lessons and uphold the values of sharing, hoping that the vaccines developed will reach many children and safeguard their lives.

Q3. How would you like the donation to be allocated?

(Answered by Joowon Hong)

I recently learned that the IVI not only focuses on its core tasks of discovering, developing, and distributing vaccines but also takes on other critical roles, such as addressing the growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. It was particularly impressive to discover that IVI strives to eliminate all potential side effects and risky health consequences beyond just distributing vaccines. In countries with highly accessible healthcare systems like South Korea, over-reliance on and misuse of antibiotics have become significant concerns, comparable to the issues surrounding vaccines themselves. As more vaccines are developed, it is equally important to ensure that they are well-managed for the best possible patient outcomes. I believe that greater attention should be given to initiatives like these in the future.

Additionally, I hope IVI continues its efforts in vaccine cooperation with North Korea. I read about IVI’s past work in supporting vaccination against life-threatening central nervous system infections like Japanese encephalitis (JE) and Hib meningitis for children in North Korea, where nutrition and healthcare are reported to be severely lacking. It would be wonderful to see these efforts resumed, helping North Korean children achieve freedom from disease and live healthier lives.

Q4. What are the future plans and aspirations of Lee Sang Hee and Friends?

(Answered by Suh Mann-Bok)

Lee Sang Hee & Friends have been supporting IVI for 20 years, growing from just 2 people to a group of 100. Over the years, many others have joined us in sharing our love for IVI. I also learned about the meaning of gathering as a group, as well as about talent donation and philanthropy. Sang Hee Lee always said that donation is both education and habit, and that consistency is the essence of true philanthropy.

I am committed to continuing my involvement with IVI even after I go to college and become an adult. I hope this concert will celebrate its 30th and 40th anniversaries, with even more participants supporting and loving IVI. I plan to ensure that we continue this journey together. Moreover, as the title of the concert suggests, I promise not just to sponsor the International Vaccine Institute, but to consider it as family—welcoming it warmly and offering help. I sincerely hope that many good vaccines will be developed so that children around the world can live healthy and happy lives.

Message of Appreciation

We sincerely thank Dr. Jerome Kim for his continued support of Lee Sang Hee & Friends, as well as all the IVI staff members who attend the concert each year. Thank you for sharing IVI’s vision with us and enlightening us on vaccine development and its impact around the world.