In February 1905, Paul Harris, a young lawyer in Chicago, made a decision that would change the course of civic history. Having arrived in Chicago a few years earlier, he had built a successful law practice, yet something was missing. He was lonely. The sense of camaraderie and community he had known growing up in a small town was glaringly absent amid the hustle and bustle of urban life.
To fill that aching void, he and three acquaintances decided to form a club where people could come together, not just to do business, but to build meaningful connections. Because they rotated their meetings among one another’s offices, they chose “Rotary” as a fitting name.
That one club soon became dozens, then hundreds, and eventually thousands, spreading from small towns to major cities across America and around the world. It has evolved into a global volunteer movement. Rotary came to South Korea in November 1927, when the first club was established in Seoul. Over the past century, it has grown into a network of more than 64,000 members across the country.
Today, the world faces a crisis of isolation that Harris would have recognized all too well. With the rapid advancement of technology, we are more connected than ever. At the same time, many feel increasingly lonely and socially isolated. While technology links us to thousands of virtual “friends,” it often fails to foster the deep, meaningful relationships that give life purpose.
As a result, loneliness and social isolation are fueling anxiety and depression, sometimes with tragic consequences. According to a 2025 report by the World Health Organization, loneliness is linked to an estimated 100 deaths every hour worldwide.
While this crisis is global, it carries particular urgency in South Korea, where suicide remains a major public health crisis. According to 2024 government data released in 2025, suicide remains the leading cause of death among Koreans from their teens through their 40s, with a rate of 29.1 per 100,000 — nearly three times the OECD average. Suicide is shaped by multiple factors, but growing social disconnection is increasingly recognized as an important condition that can deepen mental health vulnerability.
The severity of the situation has led experts to increasingly frame loneliness as a public health issue. Yet clinical intervention alone is not enough. Connection cannot be prescribed like medication. Some experts are calling instead for “social prescriptions” — reconnecting individuals with communities that offer support and belonging.
Research consistently shows that human connection, especially through community service, remains one of the most effective antidotes to modern isolation. Over the past century, civic organizations have become an integral part of Korean civic life, offering opportunities to build meaningful relationships while contributing to the greater good. Organizations such as Rotary have evolved with the times, reinventing themselves to attract younger people with busy schedules while remaining rooted in the fundamental human need for connection.
During my travels, I have seen how Rotary members around the world are responding to the loneliness crisis through community-based initiatives. In Korea, clubs in regions such as Bongdong, North Jeolla Province, and Sokcho, Gangwon Province, have launched programs focused on youth mental health. These initiatives go beyond counseling; they provide scar removal surgeries for young survivors of self-harm.
By helping erase the physical marks of past trauma, these members are enabling young people to rewrite their stories. This is the essence of community: creating spaces where people from all backgrounds can find support and purpose. The act of helping others — of being needed — is one of the most powerful antidotes to despair.
Source: Korea Times News
