D.K. Lee Message

October 2008

Dear fellow Rotarians,

When I was a child, Korea experienced a terrible war. After it was over, my country received a great deal of help from other governments and humanitarian organizations, help that put Korea on a track of health, hope, and economic growth. In the decades since the war, both Korea’s economy and its Rotary club membership have grown enormously. I feel there are two reasons for this. One is Koreans’ desire to help others as we were once helped ourselves; we all want to pay back some of what was given to us. The other is the natural affinity Koreans have for the values of Rotary: integrity, honor, hard work, and fairness. Many of Rotary’s core values are also core values in Korean business. Koreans know very well the lesson taught by Herbert J. Taylor, author of The Four-Way Test: We do not succeed professionally despite our ethical behavior; we succeed because of it.

When Korean businesses interview potential employees, they look for what we call chim shin uro, or “pure heart.” A person with a pure heart is someone who has personal integrity, a person who treats others with honor and respect and can always be counted on to do what’s right. It is a highly valued trait in companies, and it is equally important in Rotary. As Rotarians, our integrity is what makes us successful in business, in service, and in life. “Pure heart” is what we in Rotary call Service Above Self.

Koreans also talk about work as chip an. Chip an means “inside the house.” It is a way to talk about how important our work is to us, how our companies are like our families. Our businesses and the people in them should be treated with respect, honor, and dignity because, Koreans believe, good personal relationships are the basis for good business. We in Rotary also believe that honest, open relationships with customers, co-workers, and employees are important, as are our relationships with all our fellow Rotarians and those we serve through Rotary.

True service gives us pure hearts when we bring it “inside the house.” This is the reality behind Service Above Self. This is the reality of Rotary, the reality that inspires us and challenges us every day.

Dong Kurn (D.K.) Lee
President,
Rotary International