Seminar held under the theme, “Strategies for Sharing Knowledge and Experience Across Countries to Enhance the Effectiveness of International Development Cooperation”

Experts from academia and public institutions gather to discuss Saemaul Undong and international development

Exploring the academic value of Saemaul Undong and strategies for global cooperation with developing countries for shared prosperity

[July 9, 2025]

The Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (PSPS) at Yeungnam University (YU) hosted an academic seminar titled “Strategies for Sharing Knowledge and Experience Between Nations to Enhance the Effectiveness of International Development Cooperation” on July 4 at the Lee Si-won Global Convention Hall in Cheonma Art Center.

The event was jointly organized by PSPS (Dean LEE Jeong-ju), the Global Saemaul Development Network (GSDN), the Institute for International Development Cooperation (IIDC), and the Global Development Foundation (GDF), with support from the Korea Development Institute (KDI) and the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT). The seminar brought together more than 100 participants, including scholars, officials from public institutions and state-owned enterprises, graduate students, and undergraduates specializing in Saemaul development and international development cooperation.

<Dean LEE Jeong-ju of PSPS delivers opening remarks.>

The seminar aimed to shed new light on the experience and academic value of Korea’s unique regional development policy, Saemaul Undong, and to discuss various strategies and policy alternatives for enhancing the effectiveness of international development cooperation. It also explored the potential of expanding Saemaul Undong beyond community development into a global development cooperation model.Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the distinctive characteristics and policy implications of the Saemaul Undong in improving the effectiveness of international development cooperation. They also explored strategic tasks for co-prosperity with the international community. The attendees shared diverse opinions on how Korea’s development experience can be applied in global development cooperation fields and pledged to expand both academic and practical exchange.

<President CHOI Oe-chool of YU delivers a welcome speech at the seminar hosted by PSPS.>

In his welcome speech, President CHOI Oe-chool stated, “Based on the values of diligence, self-help, and cooperation emphasized by President Park Chung Hee, YU has been actively promoting the academic advancement and globalization of the Saemaul Undong.” He added, “This seminar serves as a meaningful platform to explore the distinctiveness of Saemaul Undong, the academic value of Saemaul Studies, and sustainable cooperation strategies with developing countries.”

<CEO LEE Seung-jong of the Saemaul Foundation delivers congratulatory remarks at the seminar.>

LEE Seung-jong, CEO of the Saemaul Foundation, noted in his congratulatory address, “Saemaul Undong was not only a driving force behind Korea’s remarkable development but has also become an effective cooperation model capable of contributing to sustainable global development.” He added, “I hope the experts and participants from various sectors here today will share their insights and experiences to further empower Saemaul Undong’s global role.”

<Professor HAN Dong-geun of the Department of International Development and Saemaul Studies delivers the keynote speech.>

<Experts from various sectors engage in panel discussions on different topics.>

The seminar featured a keynote speech and thematic presentations followed by panel discussions. Professor HAN Dong-geun of YU’s Department of International Development and Saemaul Studies delivered the keynote address titled, “Is Saemaul Undong Special? A Comparison of Saemaul Development, CBD, and CDD,” emphasizing that the Saemaul Undong precedes the community development theories proposed by the World Bank. Professor LEE Jong-ha of Chosun University presented a case study on Korea–ASEAN economic cooperation, offering effective strategies for international cooperation.

Professor YOON Sang-yong of YU (also Deputy Director of PSPS) introduced a KSP (Knowledge Sharing Program) case involving the Cambodian Credit Guarantee Corporation, proposing locally tailored institutional reforms and financial market efficiency improvements. After the presentations, in-depth panel discussions were held with the participation of various experts, including YU Professor Emeritus PARK Seung-woo, Professor PARK Soon-hong of Chungnam National University, and Deputy Director PARK Jae-gyun of the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund.

President CHOI Oe-chool concluded the seminar by emphasizing, “At the heart of Saemaul Undong is trust. It is a development strategy that brought about national growth through a unified shift in the mindset of local residents—clearly setting it apart from other community development policies in different countries.” He added, “To enhance the effectiveness of international development cooperation, it is crucial to foster not only performance metrics but also the transformation of participant mindsets and the spirit of self-help. Based on this, we will continue to promote and implement the 'Smart Saemaul Undong' for the shared prosperity of the global community.”

Meanwhile, YU’s PSPS is leading efforts to share leadership experiences of national figures and Korea’s development model with domestic and international audiences. Based on the core values of the Global Saemaul Undong—diligence, self-help, cooperation, sharing, volunteerism, and creativity—the school serves as a hub for research and education aimed at global coexistence and prosperity.In particular, Saemaulogy, an academic journal in Saemaul Studies published regularly by the School since 2016, was selected as a registered journal by the National Research Foundation of Korea in 2022. The journal contributes to the establishment of Saemaul theory and the expansion of interdisciplinary cooperation between domestic and international academic communities.