With over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Sean Sunjoo Lee (李善周) is widely recognized as a godfather-like figure in digital healthcare systems, global market expansion, and international medical networks. He has not only played a key role in advancing PACS technology, but also successfully facilitated the entry of Korean AI solutions into European lung cancer screening trials. His vast network and influence can be seen across the global healthcare market.

From Engineering to Healthcare: A Career Transition

Sean's early career was not in the healthcare industry but in technology and manufacturing. He spent over 20 years working at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Daewoo Group, focusing on system innovation and global market development. These experiences later became a valuable foundation for his transition into the healthcare sector.

In 2001, Sean became the President of Medison (Econet Division), marking his official entry into the medical technology field. Later, as the CEO of Infinitt Healthcare (2002-2012), he led the global expansion of PACS technology. He firmly believed that digital innovation could make medical diagnostics faster and more precise.

During the Pandemic: Facilitating the Entry of Korean AI Solutions into European Lung Cancer Screening Trials

During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021), Sean leveraged his global healthcare network to successfully facilitate the participation of Korean AI vendors in three major European lung cancer screening trials:
• 4-ITLR (Netherlands – NELSON team)
• Hanse (Germany)
• ILSP (Italy)
These trials had already achieved significant success in Europe. Through this collaboration, Korean AI technology was integrated into cutting-edge lung cancer screening programs, further strengthening international healthcare cooperation.
“This is not just a technology exchange, but a significant step toward global healthcare resource sharing,” industry experts have highly praised the initiative.

The Future of Digital Healthcare: Opportunities & Challenges

With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and telemedicine, digital healthcare is rapidly transforming the global medical landscape. However, its development is not an overnight process—there are still many opportunities for growth, such as:
✔︎ AI-Assisted Diagnostics - Streamlining workflows, addressing healthcare workforce shortages, and reducing medical misdiagnoses.
✔︎ Telemedicine Technology - Enabling cross-border diagnosis and treatment, improving healthcare accessibility.
✔︎ Health Data Management - Using big data analytics to provide personalized health management and disease prevention strategies.

On the other hand, the development of digital healthcare also faces the following challenges:
✖︎ Privacy and Security Issues : How can patient data be securely protected while enabling effective medical data sharing?
✖︎ Lack of International Standards – Differences in healthcare systems and regulations across countries create technical and regulatory barriers to cross-border collaboration.

“In the future, the key to success in digital healthcare will depend on technological innovation and international collaboration,” Sean stated.

Future Outlook: Advancing Global Healthcare Innovation

In 2023, Sean founded Larika Health Co., aiming to leverage his past experience to drive the continuous growth of digital healthcare worldwide. His goal is not only to foster technological innovation but also to use his influence to facilitate the integration of international healthcare resources. By enabling countries to share medical technologies and data, he hopes to elevate global healthcare standards.

His next steps will focus on:

1. Integrating AI into healthcare workflow to address workforce shortages and enhance the efficiency and quality of medical services.
2. Facilitating global collaboration among healthcare institutions, enabling seamless data and technology sharing across different countries.
3. Supporting healthcare startups in expanding into international markets, accelerating the adoption of innovative medical technologies.

“Innovation should have no limits, and healthcare should be borderless.” This belief has become Sean’s guiding principle in driving digital healthcare, constantly motivating him to seek international collaboration and innovation.

Conclusions

Sean's career journey is a prime example of how technology and healthcare can seamlessly integrate. He has not only driven the digital transformation of Korea’s healthcare industry but also leveraged his vast international network to facilitate cross-border medical collaborations.
As digital healthcare continues to evolve, the industry looks to him to bring new breakthroughs and innovations, shaping the future of global healthcare.
How will digital healthcare revolutionize the global health industry? How will it impact our daily lives? As a pioneer in digital healthcare, Sean will continue to guide us in discovering the answers.