"Live Happily Until You Die"... 'Nepal Schweitzer' Keunhu Lee, Ewha Womans University Emeritus Professor, Passes Away

Pioneered Psychodrama Therapy in Korea
Left a Mark as a Mountaineer and Author

Keunhu Lee, Emeritus Professor at Ewha Womans University College of Medicine—known as the first psychiatrist in Korea to attempt psychodrama therapy, celebrated mountaineer dubbed the 'Nepal Schweitzer,' and bestselling author of works such as "I Want to Live Enjoyably Until I Die"—passed away at the age of 91.

Keunhoo Lee, Emeritus Professor at Ewha Womans University College of Medicine. The Asia Business Daily Database

According to his family on September 22, Professor Lee died at his home in Jongno-gu, Seoul, around 10:10 p.m. the previous day.

Born in Daegu in 1935, Professor Lee graduated from Gyeongbuk High School and Kyungpook National University School of Medicine. From 1973 to 2001, he served as Professor of Neuropsychiatry at Ewha Womans University, leaving his mark as a psychiatrist, mountaineer, and writer.

In 1974, he proposed and introduced the psychodrama therapy method to playwright Youngjin Oh (1916–1974), marking the first attempt of its kind in Korea. While serving as the head of neuropsychiatry at Ewha Womans University in the 1970s, he operated the nation's first open ward at a time when closed ward systems—such as tying patients to their beds—were common practice. He also played a leading role in establishing the Korean Academy of Psychotherapy.

He was active as a mountaineer as well. In 1957, while a university student, he founded the Gyeongbuk Student Mountaineering Federation—the first student mountaineering group in Korea—together with Kim Kimoon, former Vice President of the Korean Alpine Federation.

As both a psychiatrist and an author, he published over 30 books, including professional texts such as "Psychoanalysis" and "Latest Clinical Psychiatry." In particular, "I Want to Live Enjoyably Until I Die" became a bestseller, selling over 400,000 copies. Other works include "How to Age Happily Until 100," "If You Love, Show the Evidence," and "Men in Crisis."

His final work is "Father, I Ask You About Life," a collection of memorable passages from his recent writings compiled by his eldest son, astronomer Myung-Hyun Lee. His grandson Danbi Lee said, "He lived joyfully until the very end, and he would often tell us, 'Live happily until you die.'"

The funeral will be held in Special Room 1 at Shinchon Severance Hospital Funeral Hall, with the procession scheduled for 6 a.m. on September 24.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.