Expo celebrates Saemaul Undong

Social Affairs

Published: 21 Sep. 2009, 04:42

Expo celebrates Saemaul Undong

Gumi City Children Choir sings at the opening ceremony at Gumi Stadium, North Gyeongsang on Sept. 18 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement) that helped Korea undergo unprecedented modernization and industrialization in the 1970s. [Joint Press Corps]

GUMI - To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement) that helped Korea undergo unprecedented modernization and industrialization in the 1970s under the leadership of then-President Park Chung Hee, Korea Saemaul Expo was opened on Friday, Sept. 18.

Former President Park believed in developing farm villages to the same level as cities because he felt Korea’s industrialization in the 1970s would have been impossible without a determination to develop both rural and urban areas.

Many Koreans believe Park’s drive took the country into the top ranks of world economies.

In a congratulatory speech, President Lee Myung-bak said “The Saemaul movement is still regarded as an important spirit today as it centers on diligence, self-dependence and collaboration.”

Under the theme “Saemaul, a hope to create tomorrow,” the expo hosted by North Gyeongsang Provincial Government and non-profit Korea Saemaul Undong Center will last through tomorrow at the Park Chung Hee and Gumi Stadiums in Gumi, North Gyeongsang.

In the Park Chung Hee Stadium, visitors can learn about the history of the Samaeul Undong movement and see how it was viewed by other countries in the world. The Gumi Stadium will showcase how the movement bore fruit across the country.

According to the Korean Saemaul Undong Center, over 47,000 people from 92 countries have applied Saemaul Undong. As of the end of 2008, 64 regions in 13 countries are conducting their own Saemaul Undong.

North Gyeongsang Province defines the Saemaul movement as a spiritual cultural asset created by Koreans and it intends to nurture the movement as part of the country’s culture.

“The Korea Saemaul Expo will serve as a venue where three generations can visit and learn about the spirit,” said Kim Kwan-yong, the governor of North Gyeongsang, “I’m hoping that the expo will bring people together.”

By Song Yee-ho [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]