Born in 1945, Dr Lee In Jeong has dedicated his life’s work to developing climbing and mountaineering throughout Korea and Asia. A highly respected and admired figure within the mountaineering community, Dr Lee has played an instrumental role in raising awareness about access, cultural, environmental and mountain protection issues primarily through his roles as President of both the Korean Alpine Federation and the UAAA – Union of Asian Alpine Associations.
In parallel to a successful business career, Dr Lee has committed enormous time and energy to mountaineering, a passion which reached new heights when he was appointed team leader for the Korean Manaslu expedition in 1980. This continued throughout the 1990s when he led a number of high-profile expeditions including ones to Gasherbrum I & II.
Among the many educational and community projects he has led include the founding of the Taein scholarship, conceived to support the development of young athletes and the creation of both the Korean Alpine Museum and the Korean Alpine Library.
In 1997, Dr Lee was awarded the Gumjung Grand Prize from the Pusan Alpine Federation, before becoming Vice President of the Korean Alpine Federation a year later, a role he served with distinction until 2005, when he became President, a role he still serves. Between 1999 and 2003 he was General Secretary of the UAAA, becoming President from 2010 until the present day.
Dr Lee served for nearly 15 years on the Directing Board of the Korean Olympic Committee as well as serving as an advisory member of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organising Committee. Dr Lee continues to be heavily involved in all aspects of mountaineering in Korea. He serves as the Chairman of Man and Mountain Magazine, as Honorary member of the Korean Student Alpine Federation and as Director of Climate Change Foundation.
Dr Lee has long enjoyed a close association with the UIAA, playing a huge role in Cheongsong holding its annual UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup and through his tireless work and in promoting the UAAA and helping foster close relationships between Asian-based federations and the UIAA. Dr Lee’s company at UIAA General Assemblies is always sought-after.
