Dr. Myung Ju Lee Receives the Minister of Health and Welfare Award at Medical Korea 2026
March 19, 2026 | COEX, Seoul, South Korea
2026 Medical Korea Global Healthcare Minister of Health and Welfare Award
Presented by Minister Jeong Eun-Kyeong | Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea
A National Recognition for Global Healthcare Excellence
On March 19, 2026, Dr. Myung Ju Lee, founder and lead surgeon of VIP Plastic Surgery Korea, received one of the highest distinctions in Korean medicine: the Minister of Health and Welfare Award, presented at the Medical Korea 2026 Global Healthcare Conference held at the Asem Ballroom, COEX, Seoul.
The award was conferred in person by Minister Jeong Eun-Kyeong, the sitting Minister of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea. Her direct presentation of the distinction carries particular weight, as it reflects the Ministry’s formal acknowledgment of Dr. Lee’s role in shaping the direction of Korean healthcare on the world stage.
What the Global Healthcare Award Represents
The Medical Korea Global Healthcare Award is not a peer-nominated prize. It is a state-sanctioned honor, issued under the authority of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and reserved for individuals who have made substantive contributions to elevating South Korea’s international medical standing.
Recipients are recognized not merely for clinical achievement within Korea, but for their measurable impact on how the world perceives and accesses Korean medicine. To receive this designation as a Global Healthcare Meritorious Individual is to be counted among those who have genuinely moved the needle for Korean healthcare abroad.
Dr. Lee was specifically cited for his role in establishing Korea as a premier destination for complex aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, drawing patients from over 50 countries and advancing the international credibility of Korean plastic surgery as a clinical discipline.
“Our goal has always been to provide a seamless, medically supervised environment where patients feel both safe and cared for throughout their entire surgical journey.” — Dr. Myung Ju Lee, MD, PhD
A Career Dedicated to Elevating Korean Medicine
Dr. Lee’s contributions to Korean plastic surgery span both clinical innovation and the broader development of medical tourism infrastructure. Through VIP Plastic Surgery Korea, he built a practice that is widely recognized for its integrated care model, combining surgical expertise, post-operative recovery, and accommodation within a single facility designed to international standards.
His clinical focus on technically demanding procedures, including deep plane facelifts and complex revision rhinoplasty, has positioned VIP Plastic Surgery Korea at the forefront of facial reconstructive medicine. The precision and consistency of outcomes across an international patient population have contributed directly to the growing global reputation of Korean aesthetic surgery.
Beyond individual patient care, Dr. Lee has been active in advancing surgical education through mentorship and clinical research, contributing to a knowledge ecosystem that benefits Korean medicine as a whole.
- Pioneered an all-in-one medical tourism system integrating surgery, luxury recovery accommodation, and 24/7 medically supervised aftercare
- Built a patient base spanning over 50 countries, strengthening Korea’s position as a global destination for facial surgery
- Specialized expertise in deep plane facelifts and complex revision rhinoplasty, procedures that require a high level of anatomical knowledge and surgical precision
- Active contribution to global mentorship and clinical research in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery
- Upheld international standards of patient safety, privacy, and natural-looking outcomes as institutional values
A Milestone That Belongs to the Entire Team
Dr. Lee has expressed that the recognition reflects not only his personal contributions, but the collective work of every member of the VIP Plastic Surgery Korea team. The award is understood within the clinic as both an affirmation of the path taken and a responsibility to continue advancing the standard of care for every patient who entrusts their outcome to the practice.
VIP Plastic Surgery Korea remains committed to delivering surgical excellence, building international trust in Korean medicine, and serving as a model for what patient-centered global healthcare can look like.
Published March 23rd, 2026
