The key to success is the localization of the Saemaul Undong
Signed MOU with the two top agricultural universities of Pakistan, begin full-fledged cooperation to spread the Saemaul Undong customized for Pakistan
Vietnam also searches for ways to cooperate with YU to develop its agricultural industry and rural villages
[Dec 11, 2013]

 YU (President Noh, Seok Kyun), the 'Global Cooperation Leading University', is stepping up to spread the Saemaul Undong all over the world in order to fulfill the global social responsibilities of Korea and the university.

 As part of this, YU recently signed an exchange and cooperation agreement with major universities in Pakistan to begin full-fledged spreading of the Saemaul Undong customized for Pakistan. Furthermore, they met with key figures of Vietnam including senior officials and agreed to cooperate for the development of Vietnam's agricultural industry and rural villages.

 MOU Signing Ceremony between YU and Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (from left to right, Dean Park, Seung Woo, Vice-Chancellor Rai Niaz Ahmad)

 On the 21st of last month, YU signed an MOU to cooperate on academic exchange, global Saemaul Undong, and the development of rural villages and the agricultural industry at Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (AAUR) located in Pakistan's fourth largest city, Rawalpindi. At the MOU signing ceremony, YU dean of Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul Park, Seung Woo, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi Vice-Chancellor Rai Niaz Ahmad, Pakistan Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Korean Ambassador to Pakistan Song, Jong Hwan, first Korean ambassador to Pakistan and chairman of the Korea-Pakistan Friendship Association Oh, Jae Hee, as well as 400 professors and students at AAUR attended. Following the MOU was held the 'Saemaul Undong Seminar in Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Korea and Pakistan'. At the seminar, Dean Park stated, "Korea's Saemaul Undong that Former President Park Chung Hee started in 1970 was a comprehensive and integrative rural development movement," while adding, "The most important thing is to enhance the people's spirit of communities and the sprit of self-help and self-supporting."

 MOU Signing Ceremony between YU and University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (from left on first row, Vice Chancellor Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Dean Park, Seung Woo)

 On the 25th, YU signed an MOU with Pakistan's top agricultural university, the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) and held a seminar. The UAF is located in Faisalabad, Pakistan's third largest city 400km southeast of Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, and is in the world's top 150 universities in the subject of agricultural sciences. Vice Chancellor Iqrar Ahmad Khan, KOICA Pakistan Director Sung, Chun Gi, and 50 others attended this seminar to listen to a lecture by Dean Park, Seung Woo on 'Plans to develop rural villages and the agricultural industry of Pakistan in the Saemaul Spirit', followed up by in-depth discussions to apply the Saemaul Undong in Pakistan.

 Dean Park, who visited Pakistan to sign MOUs between the two universities, said that "Local traditions and cultures must be taken into consideration for the globalization of the Saemaul Undong," and added, "The key to success is the localization of the Saemaul Undong that is customized to the local cultural, social and religious characteristics of Pakistan."

 On the 10th of this month, Vietnam's vice minister of agriculture and rural development, chairperson of the federation of agriculture and rural development, deputy director of the agriculture and rural development authority, and CEOs of an irrigation development corporations visited YU. Here, key figures of Vietnam and YU discussed on rural economic development through the localization of the Saemaul Undong and promised the mutual cooperation.

 A Vietnamese delegation including the vice minister of agriculture and rural development and CEOs of relevant companies visited YU on the 10th for the localization of the Saemaul Undong to develop the agricultural industry and rural villages