story by: dave king

A South Korean diplomat, who was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II, is set ​to become a future President of Rotary International.

Sangkoo Yun, of the Rotary Club of Sae Hanyang, Seoul, Korea, is the selection of ​the nominating committee to become Rotary International’s president for 2026-​27. The announcement was made in August, and he will be officially declared as ​the president-nominee on September 15 if no other candidates challenge him.

A Rotary member since 1987, when Yun was a charter member of the Rotary ​Club of Sae Hanyang, he has served Rotary International as a director, trustee, ​committee member and chair, and RI learning facilitator.

However, Yun has strong links with the United Kingdom, particularly Scotland. ​The eldest son of fourth Korean President, Yun Po-sun, he received an OBE in ​2021 at a ceremony held at the British ambassador’s residence in Seoul.

“Yun Sang-koo brought great creativity into commemorating his father’s ​association with Edinburgh University, providing the funds and ideas for a series ​of symposiums which have brought together thinkers, experts and opinion-​formers from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea,” ambassador ​Simon Smith said at the event.

Queen Elizabeth II conferred the OBE as an acknowledgement of his services to ​cultural and educational relations between the United Kingdom and South Korea.

Yun received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Syracuse University ​School of Architecture in the U.S. and holds an honorary doctoral degree from ​the University of Edinburgh, awarded in 2019 to recognise his work in promoting ​the growth of contemporary Korean studies and culture in Scotland.

According to the University of Edinburgh, Yun’s father, Yun Po-sun, arrived in ​Edinburgh in 1925 to study archaeology under Professor Gordon Childe. He later ​returned to his homeland after World War II to become the father of the modern ​democratic movement in Korea.

At the time of Yun Sang-Koo’s awarding of his OBE in 2021, the British Embassy ​acknowledged the work of his father.

Speaking to The Korea Herald, a British Embassy spokesman said: “Yun Po-Sun ​graduated with a Master of Arts in 1930 and his time in Scotland is credited with ​developing his belief in democracy: especially in terms of moral decency, equality ​and social responsibility – principles that would have a huge bearing on his later ​political life.”

In 2013, the University of Edinburgh established the Yun Po-sun Memorial ​Symposium. Last May, the 10th University of Edinburgh Yun Posun Memorial ​Symposium was held in Seoul at the Yun Po-sun Residence which looked at ​economic and scientific partnership, security and defence industry partnership, ​and partnership for democracy.

Yun is the founder and CEO of Dongsuh Corp., which engineers and markets ​architectural materials, and the president of Youngan Corp., which operates in ​real estate and financial investment. He is involved in many civic organisations ​and has a special interest in the preservation of cultural heritage.

Yun received The Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award in 2021-22. ​He was awarded the Friendship Medal by the President of Mongolia, and ​recognised for distinguished services by the president and prime minister of ​Korea. He is a veteran of the Republic of Korea Army and an emeritus elder at ​Andong Presbyterian Church.

Yun and his spouse, Eunsun, are Rotary Foundation Benefactors, Major Donors, ​and members of the Arch Klumph Society, the Paul Harris Society, and the ​Bequest Society. They have two children.

To learn more about Yun, read his interview and vision statement, which ​outline his goals for Rotary.