This paper examines how a Korean scientist adapted to the ‘poor’ research environment through Ho Wang Lee’s research of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV). Lee returned to Korea after studying about JEV at the University of Minnesota. He was faced with poor environment involving collaborators, funds, experimental equipments and so on. Under such conditions, Lee chosed to publish his research findings in the USA or change it in accordance with Korean case. When any trouble arose in the research, he solved the situation by consulting to famed laboratories or scientists he met at international academic meetings. And focusing on another experimental object, Korean snake, he kept doing his research of JEV. He got over difficulties, such as unsatisfactory laboratory condition.