Se-Ung Lee, a South Korean businessman and philanthropist, provided the initial grant to start the nursing exchange program in 2000. Since then, dozens of nursing faculty and students from both countries have participated. The faculty members teach in their areas of expertise, while the students experience nursing courses and regional health care activities in a cross-cultural environment.

Lee received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Indiana University, which was presented to him during the 1999 commencement on the IU Kokomo campus. In June 2009, he hosted the closing banquet for 250 guests at the IU International Alumni Conference and Reunion in Seoul, South Korea.