Prominent South Korean philanthropist visit Zimbabwe

Prominent South Korean philanthropist Dr Jung-Yul Choi is expected in Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Prominent philanthropist Dr Jung-Yul Choi

The newly elected Lions Clubs president is expected to visit various projects across the country carried out by Lions Club Zimbabwe.

The local unit was involved in the recently concluded fight against rubella measles in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. Lions Club Zimbabwe also helped bring relief to Cyclone idai ravaged areas and in the past assisted Tokwe Murkosi flood victims.

Dr. Choi of Busan, Republic of Korea, was elected to serve as international president of Lions Clubs International at the association’s 102nd International Convention, held in Milan,  Italy, July 5 through July 9, 2019.

A member of the Busan Jae-il Lions Club since 1977, President Choi has held many offices  within the association, including club president, cabinet secretary, district governor and international director. He also served numerous times as a DGE Group Leader and served on 11  committees as a member of the International Board of Directors. In addition, he was a chairperson of the 39th OSEAL Forum in 2000 and a host committee chairperson at the 95th Lions International Convention in Busan in 2012, the largest convention ever held in Lions history.

In recognition of his service to the association, President Choi has received numerous awards, including the Humanitarian Partnership; Senior Master Key Award; 100 percent District Governor Award; multiple International President’s Leadership Awards; and an Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor the association bestows upon its members. He is also a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow.

In addition to his Lion activities, President Choi is chief executive officer of Koala Company, Ltd., an international trading company, and is also a past director of the Busan Sports Association. President Choi and his wife, Seung-Bok, have one son, four daughters and two granddaughters.

Lions Clubs International is a service organisation with more than 1,4 million volunteer members around the globe operating in more than 210 countries operating in more than 45000 service clubs. The organization was formed in 1917 in Chicago USA by Melvin Jones. Lions Clubs International members are grouped into more than 49 districts where lions engage in different service activities which include diabetes , vision, hunger relief, paediatric cancer , engaging the environment and the youth.

Zimbabwe is one of the countries that fall under one of the aforementioned districts Multiple District 412 which comprises of Botswana Malawi Mozambique and Zimbabwe, although it has been operating as a single district 412 until in June 2018 when it changed to a multiple district after it reached the required multiple district membership.

A multiple district is different from a single district because the former is led by a council of chairs who oversee the operations of the district while the later is led by a district governor. In a multiple district the district is divided into MD412A and 412B.