YU Executive Vice President Choi, Oe Chool visits World Bank President Kim, Yong
Agreed on collaborative efforts for international development cooperation programs to eradicate global poverty
[Jan 14, 2014]

 <Executive Vice President Choi, Oe Chool (left) and World Bank President Kim, Yong shakes hands pledging cooperation for the globalization of the Saemaul Undong>

 The World Bank Group (President Kim, Yong) pledged cooperation with YU (President Noh, Seok Kyun), which is leading the globalization of the Saemaul Undong. Thus, YU will gain further momentum in its international development cooperation programs to eradicate global poverty as the global cooperation leading university.

 On the 9th, YU Executive Vice President Choi, Oe Chool visited the headquarters of the World Bank located in Washington, DC . He met with Kim, Yong, the first Asian president of the World Bank to introduce YU's efforts for globalizing the Saemaul Undong and to request the positive cooperation and support.

 While meeting with President Kim, Executive Vice President Choi explained, "The reason why YU established the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul is to foster human resources to overcome poverty and help social development in emerging countries, as efforts to return the contributions Korea received from the international society in the past 60 years". He also introduced the rural development projects based on the Saemaul Undong that is being pursued in several countries in Asia and Africa together with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC), and suggested the promotion of joint pilot projects with the World Bank.

 In response to this, World Bank President Kim, Yong said, "I think that the reason behind the success of the Saemaul Undong in Korea was because of the social, political and economical support in the 60s and 70s." He added, "When I visited Ethiopia, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia said that Korea's Saemaul Undong is a role model that they must learn for their national development. The international reputation of the Saemaul Undong is extremely high."

 <Park, Seung Woo, dean of Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul, Cackler, manager of the World Bank Agriculture and Rural Development Department, Choi, Oe Chool, YU Executive Vice President, and Voegele, director of the World Bank Agriculture and Environmental Services Department
(left to right)>

 World Bank President Kim stated, "Education and Development of rural areas is crucial to eradicate global poverty. Taking this into account, the World Bank is also studying the strengths of the Korean education with the Korean government," as he spoke highly of the efforts of YU and pledged close cooperation.

 President Kim stated with emphasis, "The full-hearted efforts and cooperation of the Korean government are also necessary for the globalization of the Saemaul Undong and international development cooperation programs to help emerging countries overcome poverty." He also proposed, "Let's search ways for the Korean government, KOICA and YU to participate in education and pilot projects being pursued by the World Bank to develop rural areas of emerging countries such as in Africa. For this, we will invite YU to the World Bank Forum scheduled for February 2015."

 Currently in 2014, public officials, university professors, researchers, NGO leaders and journalists from 44 different countries are in a master's degree program in fields such as Saemaul Undong Theory and Practice, International Development Cooperation, Forest Resources and Ecological Restoration, and Public Policy and Leadership at the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul. These students are given 100% scholarships and a monthly allowance of 1 million won.