Charter Celebration Held for Seoul Hanmaum Rotary Club

Seoul Hanmaum Rotary Club charter ceremony 서울한마음로타리클럽 창립회

Seoul Hanmaum Rotary Club officially launched, connecting people and community with “One Heart.”

On January 30, 2026 the charter celebration of Seoul Hanmaum Rotary Club, a newly established club in Rotary International District 3650, was held at Dragon Hill Lodge located on the U.S. Garrison Yongsan in Seoul.

Approximately 60 guests attended the event, including district leaders, Rotarians from other clubs, community leaders, and distinguished guests, all gathered to celebrate the official launch of the club.

Among the distinguished attendees were District Governor Kim Jong-moon, Past District Governors Son Bong-rak and Jang Se-ho, District Governor-Nominee Kim Sun, District Secretary General Lee Sang-woo, Membership Development Chair Lee Hyun-seong, and Region 10 Representative Jeon Jae-woong.

Other honored guests included Yong-beom Kim, President of the Global Mentoring Association and former District Secretary General of District 3650, and Young-geun Jang, Vice President of Seoul Link Rotary Club. Their presence reflected strong support from the Rotary family and the broader community.

Several district leaders also demonstrated their support by providing charter grants to help establish the club and support its long-term growth. These contributions came from District Governor Kim Jong-moon, District Governor-Nominee Kim Sun, Membership Development Chair Lee Hyun-seong, Region 10 Representative Jeon Jae-woong, and Global Mentoring Association President Yong-beom Kim.

The ceremony began at 7:00 PM and followed traditional Rotary protocol, including the opening declaration and bell ringing, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the recitation of The Four-Way Test. The event also included the introduction and pinning of the 15 charter members, the presentation of the club flag, congratulatory remarks from District Governor Kim Jong-moon, and words of encouragement from Past District Governor Jang Se-ho.

Raymond Chetti (임동준) was installed as the Charter President of Seoul Hanmaum Rotary Club. In his welcome remarks, President Chetti stated:

“Seoul Hanmaum Rotary Club brings together people from diverse backgrounds and life paths who share one heart in pursuing service and growth together. We hope to build a new Rotary culture that values people over formality and sincerity over obligation.”

President Chetti previously founded and led the Seoul Young Leaders Club (SYLC) in 2015, a satellite club focused on young professionals, and later served as Secretary General of the Seoul Rotary Club. Drawing from these experiences and his understanding of Rotary traditions and operations, he launched Seoul Hanmaum Rotary Club to create a new platform for service and connection.

The club’s leadership team also brings significant Rotary experience. Vice President Jay Hur, Treasurer Rob Vlug, and Marketing Director Thomas Sommer have each served in leadership roles in other Rotary clubs. In addition, Adam Hennings, who oversees the Rotary Foundation for the club, has extensive experience participating in Rotary activities across multiple countries. Together, this diverse leadership team provides a strong foundation for the club’s future.

  

The name “Hanmaum” (한마음) means “One Heart.” It reflects the club’s belief that people from different backgrounds can come together with a shared spirit to create positive change in the community.

Looking ahead, Seoul Hanmaum Rotary Club plans to conduct local community needs assessments and develop service initiatives focused on youth, education, and strengthening community connections.

The evening also included special celebratory performances. Deborah Gu, who has maintained a connection with President Chetti since the founding of the Seoul Young Leaders Club nearly a decade ago, opened the celebration with a warm musical performance. This was followed by a performance from Super Tenor Yang Seung-ho, a vocalist known for being selected by world-renowned tenor Placido Domingo, whose powerful performance deeply moved the audience.

 

The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of Dragon Hill Lodge, which provided the venue in recognition of the club’s vision and mission. Brian Campbell, General Manager of Dragon Hill Lodge, offered congratulatory remarks and expressed support for the club’s launch. Seoul Hanmaum Rotary Club also expressed sincere appreciation to Mr. Campbell and the Dragon Hill Lodge team for providing the venue for the event.

Today, Seoul Hanmaum Rotary Club includes members ranging from their late 20s to early 60s, representing multiple nationalities including Korea, the United States, and Europe. Members come from diverse professional fields such as diplomacy, international organizations, global corporations, finance, healthcare, and startups.

The club aims to create meaningful impact by listening first, designing solutions together, and executing flexibly—ensuring that its service initiatives reflect real community needs and create lasting contributions to society.

Read the news about our launch in Korean from Rotary International District 3650: https://rotary.or.kr/club/document/club_volunteer/1275

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