Jung-Yul Choi, who served as President of Lions International for an unprecedented two years–from 2019-2021–during the COVID-19 pandemic, shared his story in Resilience and Renewal: The Story of Lions International and the Crisis of COVID-19.
As an experienced leader in Lions International, having served nine times on the International Board prior to his election to the office of Third International Vice President in 2016, Jung-Yul Choi was not unfamiliar with the challenges of leading a global service club organization. Throughout the 200 countries and territories where the nearly 1.4 million Lions were serving those in need, Choi understood the importance of providing stability and steady leadership when uncertainty was widespread among Lions. In addition, he had to demonstrate patience as the world shut down and he was required to stay away from the safety of his own home. What follows is Choi’s remembrance about what happened to him at the start of the pandemic:
“I was traveling in the Middle East, to Lebanon from Türkiye, when the pandemic was declared a global emergency. Because I was from Korea, authorities in Lebanon were not going to allow me to enter the country. They thought that Korea was close to China, where the pandemic started, so they thought that my plane and pilots would bring in the virus. I had quite a time talking with higher-level people in Lebanon. Finally, they let me enter the country and visit with local Lions. When I went back to the United States, I had to stay for about three months in Oak Brook before I could return to Korea. The authorities kept saying it would only be for another week or two, but that was not the case.” (p. 21)
In a review of the book published in The Pacific Book Review, Liz Konkel, wrote of Resilience and Renewal that:
“Each interview reveals how their organization [Lions International] not only faced a massive challenge but also offered a chance to make a tremendous impact and difference, exiting the pandemic in an even better position to thrive in their mission. Although this story is inspiring enough on its own merits, hearing the moment-to-moment thought processes that guided this historic organization through troubled waters adds an extra layer of weight and power.”
If you want to read more about how Lions around the world survived COVID-19 and inspired the world through their ongoing service to those in need, use the QR code provided below to order your own copy today! Proceeds from the sale of the book are donated to the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) for humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
Past President Choi expressed his appreciation in 2022 to Lion Kathy and me for our ongoing support of Lions Clubs International Foundation at the first in-person convention following the pandemic that was held in Montreal, Canada.
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