Former President Lee Myung-bak visits the Office of the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul to meet with Association Chairman Lee Pil-woo. SNU-ACADA Chairman Lee also serves as chairman of the Central Fraternity Association of Gyeongju Lee Genealogy, in which ex-President Lee is a member.

President Lee Pil-woo of Seoul National University’s Advanced Center for Administrative Development Alumni (SNU-ACADA) is one of the notables more actively engaged in social connections or activities for his advanced age. To name a few, Chairman Lee has been elected as the Chairman of the 11th National Assembly Parliamentarians  Committee, and he serves as Chairman of the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul as well as chairman of the Central Fraternity Association of Gyeongju Lee Genealogy. The latter represents 3.5 million clan members. Lee also takes time out with social contribution activities in a more healthy and energetic fashion than other seniors his age, while ushering the Year of Goat. 

Stressing the fact that leaders should be armed with a sense of unlimited responsibility for the state, Chairman Lee shoulders spends a lot of money to carry out diverse social contribution activities and other events. Lee hosted the 60th General Assembly of the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul and New Year’s gathering at the Lottel Hotel in Jamsil, Seoul on Feb. 26. It attracted some 1,000 dignitaries hailing from Chuncheongbuk-do.

Among those on hand at the general meeting were Chungcheongbuk-do Gov. Lee Si-jong, Rep. Oh Jae-se, Minister of Environment Yoon Sung-kyu, Chairman Shin Kyung-shik of the National Assembly Constitution Association, former defense minister Lee Sang-hoon, Mayor Choi Chang-shik of the Junggu Ward Office, Im Gak-soo, chief of Goesan Country, Kim Young-man, chief of Okcheon Country, Chung Sang-hyuk, chief of Boeun Country, Chairman Yoon Suk-min of the Cheongju City Hometown Alumni Association, and senior officials of the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul.

“Sixty-nine years have passed since the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul was established, and I feel a huge sense of responsibility as the chairman of the association, which inherits history and tradition,” Chairman Lee said in his opening speech.

“I extend thanks to members of the association who have given their indefinite support to the development of the association,” he said. Lee went on to say that Chungcheongbuk-do, geographically located at the center of the Republic of Korea, serves as a traffic center and has abundant natural tourist attractions. He said the city could go beyond Korea, toward the globe, by nurturing its gifted talents.  

“I wish people from Chungcheongbuk-do to help each other and harmonize themselves based on the love of their native town and their pride, and I hope to dedicate myself to ardently devoting to and supporting the development of our native town, and Chungcheongbuk-do is the place I will be buried and I want to leave worthwhile footsteps,” Chairman Lee said. 

Gov. Lee said in his commemorative speech that Chungcheongbuk-do is poised to lay a solid foundation for quantum growth thanks to the active support by people from Chungcheongbuk-do living in Seoul, and he called for the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul to provide greater love and support. 

The speakers of the event extended whole-hearted thanks to Chairman Lee’s love and contribution to his native town. 

During the event, Chairman Lee awarded the Man of Chungcheongbuk-do Prize to Chungcheongbuk-do Gov. Lee and Environment Minister Lee while presenting a plaque to congratulate the inauguration of Superintendent Lee Jae-jung of Gyeonggi Education, Superintendent Kim Byung-woo of Chungcheongbuk-do Education, Vice Minister Choi Jae-yu of the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning, Vice Minister Kwon Yong-hyun of the Ministry of Gender Equality & Family, and Chairman Shin Yong-hwan of the Presidential Commission for Youth, respectively. Rep. Chung Woo-taik and Rep. Nah Kyung-won each were honored with a plaque of contribution. 

Chairman Lee Pil-woo of the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul poses with award winners, Chungcheongbuk-do Gov. Lee Si-jong, Minister of Environment Yoon Sung-kyu and i-KAIST CEO Kim Sung-jin.

Chairman Lee Pil-woo talks with former defense minister Lee Sang-hoon and Chungcheongbuk-do Gov. Lee Si-jong during the 60th General Assembly of the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul and New Year’s gathering at Lottel Hotel in Jamsil, Seoul, on Feb. 26.

Performances by singers hailing from Chungcheongbuk-do boosted the festive mood and Chairman Lee sang his two favorite songs — receiving an ovation. 

Chairman Lee, who took the helm of the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul as the eighth chairman in 2006, is credited with establishing it as one of the nation’s most active associations of provincial residents, which has a heavy presence in several walks of life by dignitaries from the province. The association’s 2015 major projects range from the strengthening of relationships among city and county residents to the hosting of meetings with chiefs of local bodies, marketing local agricultural produce in May and October each year, publication of a yearbook, and the hosting of association executives’ workshops.  

He has contributed a combined 2 billion won to the association while serving as the chairman for eight years. Lee has earned a reputation because of his achievements for the association since its establishment.

Lee has contributed 5 million won annually each to associations of city and county’s native residents for the development of local communities. He has presented scholarships to scores of students praised for their filial piety. Some of the scholarship recipients serve as ranking officials in public organizations such as courts, prosecution offices, police and tax authorities, as well as large-sized corporations. No other chairman of the association could have put into practice the tenets of sharing through volunteering activities and scholarships as much as Lee. 

The office of the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul has moved into a four-story structure, owned by Lee in Nohyeon-dong, southeastern Seoul. Parts of the building are leased free of charge to the Committee for Sending Books to Overseas Korean Expatriates and the National Seniors Committee, as well as to a resting space for notables in political and academic circles who hail from Chuncheongbuk-do. Lee makes it a rule to provide warm hospitality to former ministers, parliamentarians, alumni, and people from his hometown, who visit the resting space by exchanging views with the visitors and giving them gifts.   

Lee believes in lifetime learning. He is a native of Gyerong-ni, Chupungryeong-myeon, Yeongdong-gum, Chungcheongbuk-do. At seven, he had learned a thousand Chinese characters from the Chinese literary classic Zhouyi from his father. He still keeps abreast of the latest international developments by reading Chinese literature, such as Confucian books, as well as listening CNN and NHK news programs. 

His love for his hometown is noteworthy. He spends most of his free time at his villa, Yongchuwon. He doles out the “99 Wisdoms to Make Life a Success,” which he published some time ago, to university students and other youth, as well as people in his hometown and his clan members. The book contains Lee’s career, life philosophy, and success stories of his exemplary life. The book has enjoyed popularity among his clan members, including former President Lee Myung-bak, who said he read the book.

Some departments of Youngdong University in Chairman Lee’s native town have adopted the book as part of their classroom curriculum, and delivered students’ book reports to Chairman Lee. For instance, a student wrote a book report on the reason Chairman Lee became a success, and extending thanks for his free provision of books for the success of the younger generation.

Chairman Lee Pil-woo delivers the opening speech at the 60th General Assembly of the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul and New Year’s gathering. All participants at the event pose for a group photo session.

Former President Lee Myung-bak, right, talks with Chairman Lee Pil-woo of the Association of Chungcheongbuk-do Residents in Seoul at the latter’s office.(Photos:NewsWorld)