[Interview] Dr. Jaepung Yoo, International Director of the Lions Clubs International (LCI)
Interview] Dr. Jaepung Yoo, International Director of the Lions Clubs International (LCI)
http://cafe.daum.net/weeklymonday/iSZz
Dr. Jaepung Yoo is an International Director of the Lions Clubs International (LCI), and he works as the Chairperson of the Korea State Council of Governors for LCI. He is a practicing lawyer of Cheongju-Law. He has also served as the Chairperson of Cheongju YMCA, Cheongju Civitan Club. I met him at his office to hear about his life story and for some messages to our readers. –ED
Q1 First of all, congratulations on being elected as the Chairperson of the Korea State Council, Lions Clubs International last July, Dr. Yoo. You have worked as the head attorney for a well-known law firm in Korea. Please tell us about yourself and your work.
A1 I was born and educated in Cheongju from elementary school to college. After I graduated from the College of Law at Cheongju University, I served as a judge advocate for the Korean Air Force for more than 16 years. I have practiced law for 21 years, at first by myself, and since 2008 with six other attorneys as the head attorney of the firm. I have long been in connection with my community as a member of humanitarian volunteer service organization such as Lions Club, Civitan Club, YMCA and CBMC.
Q2. Thank you so much for your introduction. Could you please tell us what the Lions Club is and what it does?
A2 The Lions Club was founded to improve the community in Chicago in 1917 with the proposal of Melvin Jones, a businessman from Chicago. Ever since, many local Lions Clubs were founded in the USA and other countries. At last, the International Lions Association (LCI) was founded and located its headquarters in Chicago. Now the LCI has more than 46,000 clubs in 213 countries with 1.45 million members all through the world. Here in Korea there are 80,000 members in 2,083 Lions Clubs. We are doing various kinds of service activities for neighbors both on the local and global level.
Q3 I think the position of the Chairperson of the Korea State Council, Lions Clubs International is very prestigious and important. I heard that you also became an International Director. What do you do as the Chairperson of the Korea State Council and as an International Director?
A3 The Chairperson of the Korea State Council represents all Korean Lions Club members at home and abroad. An international director is the representative of the Lions Clubs International, and participates in its important decision-making in the board meetings.
Q4 What is your vision as the Chairperson of the Korea State Council of Governors, and as an International Director of the Lions Club?
A4 As the Chairperson of the Korea State Council of Governors, I am focusing on encouraging Korean Lions to do their best in serving our neighbors with pride. With this goal in mind, I have renewed the Internet website of the Council. I also renewed the faculty of Training Institute to improve the quality of Lions training program for enhancing Lions members’ capacities. Now I am conducting the campaign to increase the number of Korean Lions membership up to 100,000 in the coming two years, through which I hope we can build up our power and capacity of service. As an International Director, I am doing my best to serve as the bridge between the Korean Lions and LCI.
Q5 You have worked as an attorney of a law firm. What do you do there and what were your most memorable things, or the things you felt most rewarding while you worked as a lawyer?
A5 As I already told you, currently I work as the representative of our law firm with six attorneys. I mainly deal with cases of civil law, criminal law, administrative law, family law and international law.
One case I worked on that stands out was a criminal case in which I proved my client’s innocence. This person had been accused of running away after allegedly causing a traffic accident when he was actually a good Samaritan who helped out the victim. The police mistakenly regarded him as the criminal and accused him. A ctually, there have been so many memorable cases in the past 21 years that I am proud of my service as an attorney.
Q6 What are your family precepts, or your philosophical view of life?
A6 As a Christian, I always pray to be faithful, energetic, intelligent, passionate, self-controlled, gentle and generous in my service to others with the instrument of law as a lawyer. What I want to do is to serve others as an energizer to give them energy every day. Also, I want to share my talents, time and possessions with others. The phrase I like most is “Pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you”. My family precepts are “Righteous Mind, Righteous Word and Righteous Action” to fulfill God’s vision.
Q7 Finally, can you give some messages for our readers, especially for our young readers, during this new year season?
A7 I always think every person has a vision that God has given to fulfill in his or her life. I believe God also gave each of us different talents with which to serve others and fulfill our visions. Therefore, our first mission is to find that talent in our younger days, and the next one is to fulfill the visions by making the best use of that talent during our lifetime. Now we have another new year. It is the best time to think of these things and work towards making them happen for a year and for your entire life. Make your own life better by working on a short and long term plan for what you want to accomplish. May God bless you all.
20호2018년2월19일(인쇄본).pdf