Where and when?
We meet every Tuesday from 8-10 PM in Hyehwa (Subway stop 420), Seoul.

Guests: We always welcome guests to KH Toastmasters. However, unlike the many quality "open" Toastmasters Clubs in Seoul, KH is one of the two "closed" clubs in Korea. Consequently, our Guest Policy is restrictive as we strive for distinguished recognition and focus on the development and education of our paid members. Because of this we require all guests to reserve a seat with Tim, our Assistant VP of Membership. Don’t worry; he’s very friendly! Call Tim at 010-7385-9677 (please no text messages) by Sunday before our Tuesday meeting. We have 4 spots available for guests every week so don’t delay reserving yours! If you have any questions please call Kurt and we hope to see you there! If you are a university student whose professor recommended Toastmasters to you, please check out http://koreatoastmasters.ning.com/ to view other clubs in Korea. Lastly, if you are seeking a club with a less restrictive guest policy please visit our sister club, LGA Toastmasters, at http://lgatoastmasters.ning.com/.

Who are we?
Founded in 2005, KH Toastmasters is dedicated to improving communication skills which in turn enhance confidence in leadership and success in a variety of fields. We are a nonprofit, non-religious, non-political volunteer organization open to all members of the community. Our club is free to those who attend as visitors or guests. We will extend a welcome and encourage you to participate in some roles. If you like us enough to become a member, there is a small fee, renewable every six months. You can then focus on taking major roles in the club and working through a speech program to obtain internationally recognized awards. We are also on Facebook!

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We were in the KOREA TIMES. KH members in the photo below include Fiona Jackson and Jacob Michaels.

Toastmasters Host Public Speaking Promotion Event

Members of Toastmasters, including Richard Choi, left, Fiona Jackson, fourth from left, and Irving Gusson, right, welcome guests at their banquet in southern Seoul, Saturday. / Courtesy of Toastmasters

By John Redmond
Contributing Writer

Toastmasters International, whose slogan reads, ``Because public speaking skills aren't debatable,'' held a special promotional evening at Jack's Office in Apgujeong, southern Seoul, Saturday, providing its audience with a chance to see public speakers in action.

In today's global village, communication is one of the keys to achieving personal goals. Whether in business, academic or social situations, the ability to be a good communicator is always associated with good leadership skills. In annual surveys, the number one fear people share is public speaking. This is true of people from all walks of life.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit organization consisting of nearly 235,000 members in 11,700 clubs in 92 countries, offering a proven and enjoyable way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills. Formed in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, Toastmasters International has grown to become a world leader in helping people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience.

The evening featured members of local chapters of Toastmasters, comprised of foreigners and Koreans, giving examples of prepared speeches and impromptu questions and answers, followed by explanations of how speakers are graded. To put guests at ease, light snacks and wine were served throughout the presentations, and formalities were kept to a minimum. Overall, the quality of presentation was very high, considering the speakers were positioned facing a door, with the audience divided by a walkway.

As for those Oscar speech tips, here are some: 1. Write your speech as a script and memorize it.
2. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. (One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand. Pause. Begin.)
3. Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms the nerves.
4. Control filler words (ums and ahs; ``you knows.'')
5. Keep names to a minimum and get them right.

For more information regarding Toastmasters, check out their international Web site, www.toastmasters.org, or contact one of several local chapters by visiting www.khtoastmasters.com