Korean Rotarians inducted into Arch C. Klumph Society
Rotary News -- 30 August 2012
Arch C. Klumph Society inductees during the Korea Day ceremony 20 June in Evanston. Rotary Images/Alyce Henson
The Rotary Foundation inducted five couples from Korea into the Arch C. Klumph Society on 20 June. The society honors those who give at least US$250,000 to the Foundation.
In addition to the honorees, others attending the ceremony at Rotary International World Headquarters in Evanston included the consul general of Korea in Chicago, Chul Huh; the president of the Chicago Korean American Chamber of Commerce, Yong Chul Kwon; members of the Rotary Club of Chicagoland Korean-Northbrook, Illinois; and several Rotary senior leaders with their spouses.
Korea is the fourth-largest Rotary country in the world, with more than 63,000 Rotarians.
“Today is a special time,” said 2011-12 Trustee Chair William B. Boyd at the ceremony, the second that has included a large group of inductees from Korea. “It recognizes the importance of Korea as a growing country within Rotary, but also as a strong country in so many ways.”
Four other couples and an individual donor, who were not present at the ceremony, also were inducted into the society. Those who attended are:
Dong Kurn Lee and Young Ja Chung
Dong Kurn Lee is chairman of Bubang Co. Ltd and Bubang Techron Co. Ltd., family businesses that manufacture electronics and home appliances in both Korea and China. A member of the Rotary Club of Seoul Hangang, Seoul, he followed in his father’s footsteps, serving as governor of District 3650 in 1995-96.
“I dedicate the honor of being an Arch C. Klumph Society member to my father, PDG Won-Kap Lee, who motivated me to join Rotary,” said Lee. “ I wish my small contribution will be of some help toward Rotary's noble effort in changing the world.”
As governor, Lee oversaw the launch of 32 clubs and recruited a total of nearly 1,800 Rotarians. He served as RI president in 2008-09, focusing on child mortality. He has also served as an RI director and treasurer and as a Rotary Foundation trustee. He will serve as trustee chair in 2013-14.
Byong Seol Choi and A Jong Lee
Byong Seol Choi is CEO of Daegeon BS Co. Ltd. and chairman of Kyunghan Industry Co. Ltd. He joined the Rotary Club of Seoul-Seocho, Seoul, in 1992 and recently completed his second term as governor of District 3640.
In addition to water and literacy projects, Choi supports the Green Umbrella Child Fund, the Joseph Clinic, and the Mohyun Hospice, all in Korea. His wife, A Jong Lee, who is a retired pharmacist, volunteers at the clinic. The couple also have hosted Group Study Exchange participants.
Says Choi: “Rotary turns ordinary people like me into extraordinary individuals capable of changing communities. I am deeply gratified to have been given the change to serve communities both near and far, as well as to have contributed to Rotary’s advancement in Korea.”
The couple support The Rotary Foundation through an endowed fund.
Seung Ryong Han and Hee Jong You
Seung Ryong Han is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Weonju, Gangweon, which he joined in 1963. He is chair of both the Cheongpa Scholarship Foundation and the Hankyungbeom Scholarship Foundation, which combined have provided more than US$1.64 million in scholarships to more than 570 students.
Han served as governor of District 3730 in 1991-92. Among his many service activities, he assisted in a Rotary project to plant one million trees in Gangweon Province.
“For the past 49 years, my commitment to Rotary has continued to enrich my life,” said Han. “It has been a great experience, one that has brought me both pride and happiness.”
Hahn said he considers PolioPlus to be Rotary’s most valuable program, and is confident that polio eradication will be achieved in the near future.
He and his wife, Hee Jong You, support Team-Spirit Joint Operations, a partnership to develop the relationship between Korean and American Rotarians.
Young Koo Park and Eun Hwa Chang
Young Koo Park is chairman and CEO of Kumho Electric, the leading electric and light company in Korea. The son of a Rotarian, Park joined the Rotary Club of Seoul Joongang, Seoul, in 1986, after years of observing his father’s dedication to Rotary.
During his year as governor of District 3650 in 2010-11, 10 new clubs were chartered and 537 members joined clubs in the district. Under his leadership, the district launched a service project to provide free lunches to middle school students in Seoul.
“Even on weekends or school summer and winter holidays, lunchboxes were delivered to those children living in miserable housing conditions,” said Park, who noted that thousands of students in the bustling capital still cannot afford a lunch. “We, Korean Rotarians, have to play a vital role in solving this problem.”
Park is a member of The Rotary Foundation’s Permanent Fund Committee for Korea. He and his wife, Eun Hwa Chang, are particularly devoted to the goal of providing basic education and literacy, and support The Rotary Foundation through the Young Koo Park Endowed Fund.
Hong-Joo Yoon and Kyung Hee Lee
Hong-Joo Yoon, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, joined the Rotary Club of Busan-Hang, Busan, in 1998 and served as governor of District 3660 in 2010-11. He transferred to the Rotary Club of Busan Mugunghwa in 2011.
Yoon recalled how, as a busy surgeon, he hardly had any time for lunch when he was first invited to a local Rotary club meeting. He said he soon found the weekly discussions the most precious part of his week, “giving me room for fresh air to breathe.”
“Rotary has broadened my view of the world,” he said. “It is piercing through the center of my life.”
He is most proud of his district’s global grant project with District 3240 (Northeast India) to provide surgeries for children with congenital heart defects. The district has also supported a mobile health clinic in Indonesia and provided equipment for an eye hospital in Thailand. He and his wife, Kyung Hee Lee, support The Rotary Foundation through the Hong-Joo Yoon Endowed Fund.
In absentia
The four couples and individual donor inducted into the Arch C. Klumph Society who were not present at the ceremony are:
Kyun Kim and Hye Suk Jeong
Kyun Kim is the CEO of Mars Co. Ltd., which produces chemical products. In addition to his professional endeavors, he serves as executive vice president of his high school’s alumni association.
Kim joined the Rotary Club of Busan-Dongrae, Busan, in 1993 and served as governor of District 3660 in 2011-12. He received the RI Presidential Citation award in 2008. His favorite Rotary Foundation project was providing a digital X-ray machine for diagnosing tuberculosis to the nonprofit Green Doctors hospital in Korea.
Eung Jong Yoo and Hee Sook Chung
Eung Jong Yoo , who works in the service distribution industry, is the chairman of the Korean Cultural Foundation, Chungbuk Province Baseball Association, and Cheongju Athletics Foundation; vice president of the Chungbuk Province Administration; and president of the Sharing Love Association.
He joined the Rotary Club of Cheongju, Chungcheongbug, in 1981 and served as governor of District 3740 in 2001-02. His favorite Rotary club project was providing free medical service in Vietnam in 2005.
In Chul Park and Hai Soon Bae
In Chul Park is the chairman of Leehan Corporation, a global automotive parts supplier, and has served on the boards of the Korea Trade Association and the Korea Auto Industry Cooperative.
Park was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Anyang, Gyeonggi, and later joined the Anyang East club, serving as governor of District 3750 in 2002-03. He participated in a Group Study Exchange in 2006. The 2012-13 vice chair of the Permanent Fund Committee for Korea, he received The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service in 2005.
Sang Koo Yun and Eun Sun Yang
Sang Koo Yun has served since 1985 as the CEO of Dongsuh Corporation, which manufactures architectural materials. His volunteer commitments have included Keep Mongolia Green and the building of the Tumbi-Rotary Mother and Child Health Complex in Tanzania.
Yun joined the Rotary Club of Sae Hanyang, Seoul, in 1986, serving as governor of District 3650 in 2004-05. He also has served as district Rotary peace fellowships chair, district Rotary Foundation chair, and as a member of RI’s Reach Out to Africa Committee.
Yong Keuk Shin
Yong Keuk Shin is the chairman of EURO Trading Co. Ltd. Influenced by his father, who was a district governor, he joined the Rotary Club of Seoul Namsan, Seoul, in 1987 and served as its president in 2010-11. His favorite club activity is to provide volunteer medical assistance in Yanbian, China.
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