Two Students from Egypt Join PSPS, Strengthening Its Status as a Global Hub for Saemaul Studies

1,030 Students from 77 Countries Have Studied at PSPS, Now Serving as Policy Leaders and Development Experts Worldwide

Students and Faculty Practice the Saemaul Spirit through Campus Cleanup Activities

[October 1, 2025]

Yeungnam University (President CHOI Oe-chool)’s Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (PSPS) has welcomed new students from Egypt this semester, marking the 77th country represented among its international students. In just 14 years since its establishment, PSPS has solidified its position as a leading global educational institution for Saemaul Studies, attracting students from across the world.

 The two Egyptian students, Hamza Mohamed Maged Abdelhak and Moustafa Mansour Mohamed Abdelmoneim Mansour, have enrolled in the Water Resources Management program. They plan to systematically learn about Korea’s development experience and the Saemaul Undong movement, with the goal of applying this knowledge to their home country’s development policies.

On the same day, PSPS held its regular monthly event, the “Day of Practicing the Saemaul Spirit and Social Contribution.”  Around 120 students and faculty members participated in a campus cleanup, promoting environmental awareness and community spirit.Participants cleaned key areas of the YU campus, including Cheonma-ro and the Main Library, putting into action the Saemaul values of diligence, self-help, and cooperation, while reinforcing their sense of social responsibility as international students.

Over the past 40 years, YU has accumulated extensive experience and achievements in Saemaul-based education and research. Building on this foundation, the university established the Park Chung Hee Institute for Saemaul Studies, Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul, the Institute for International Development Cooperation, and the Department of Saemaul International Development to systematically develop and institutionalize Saemaul Studies. Through these programs, YU continues to cultivate experts in Saemaul-inspired international development and implement diverse international cooperation and development projects that expand the impact of the Saemaul movement globally.

President CHOI Oe-chool stated, “The Saemaul Undong, which played a vital role in Korea’s transformation into a developed nation, serves as an important model for national development. It is now our duty to share this experience with the world.”  He added, “Through Saemaul Studies, YU is sharing the knowledge and achievements accumulated over decades with the international community, paving the way for global cooperation and the next generation’s future.I hope that the Saemaul Spirit learned at YU will contribute to the development of each student’s home country and ultimately serve as a cornerstone for a sustainable global community.”

Established in November 2011, the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (PSPS) aims to train Saemaul International Development Specialists and Regional Development Experts—primarily government officials, policymakers, and public sector professionals from developing countries.To date, PSPS has provided Saemaul-based education to 1,030 students from 77 countries, many of whom now serve as policy leaders, international development professionals, and Saemaul movement leaders in government ministries, public institutions, and international NGOs. As of October 2025, PSPS hosts 126 students from 26 countries currently studying at YU.