14 Member Group including Vice Prime Minister of Cambodia and Vice Ministers of major ministries visit YU
YU visualizes achievements in fostering leaders and social contribution activities for global joint prosperity
[June 17, 2014]

 The Cambodian government visited YU. They came to learn about the Saemaul Undong and Saemaul spirit that provided the cornerstone for the astonishing development of Korea.

 In the morning of the 16th, YU (President Noh Seok-kyun) greeted a 14 member group composed of Cambodian vice prime minister and chairman of the agricultural/rural development committee Yim Chhayly (64), and vice ministers of major government ministries of Cambodia such as the rural development ministry, education ministry, and public projects and transportation ministry.

 Vice Prime Minister Yim Chhayly said, "We came to YU to learn the Saemaul Undong that made Korea's miraculous economic growth possible," and added, "We ask that YU passes on the academic knowledge and experience of the Saemaul Undong and Saemaul spirit to Cambodia."

 YU responded by saying, "YU has played a pioneering role in the academic positioning of the Saemaul Undong," while adding, "We will do our best to integrate the Saemaul Undong to the cultures and environments of Cambodia to help with their development."

 Following this at the 3rd floor main conference room of YU, YU International Development Center Director Choi Oe Chool held a special lecture on 'Korea's Saemaul Undong Experience and Implications'. At the special lecture, Choi said, "The success of the Saemaul Undong lies with the political philosophy of leaders, national consensus, and consistent policies," while emphasizing, "Taking this into consideration, the roles of those who are visiting YU today are very crucial."

 After the special lecture, Vice Prime Minister Yim passed on a special message by Prime Minister Hun Sen. It was a request to provide advice for the establishment and operation of the 'Saemaul College' (tentative name) that the Cambodian government is pursuing and to make a visit to Cambodia in the near future.

 Director Choi visited Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in January and discussed cooperation plans for the localization of the Saemaul Undong and Saemaul spirit. Director Choi and Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed that it is important for leaders and the people to share political philosophies for the success of the Saemaul Undong and agreed to have YU and the Cambodian government continuously cooperate so that the Cambodia-customized Saemaul Undong can take root not only in the government, but private sectors as well.

 Following the special lecture, the Cambodian delegation held a meeting with foreign students studying Saemaul at the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (hereinafter called 'Saemaul School') and shared opinions about the localization of the Saemaul Undong. At this meeting, two students from Cambodia studying at the Saemaul School attended to hold in-depth discussions with their vice prime-minister's delegation. Pheap Chakriya (28), who studied computer engineering at Phnom Penh University and worked as a manager at an agricultural and rural development company in Cambodia from 2010 to 2013 and entered the YU Saemaul School master's degree program (major in public policy and leadership), said, "I'm very happy to see key figures from my home's government visiting YU showing interest in the Saemaul Undong especially since I am an international student learning Saemaul in Korea," and added, "Since government figures of Cambodia are interested and are willing to take part in the Saemaul Undong, I hope to go back home and take what I learn from YU and integrate it in my work to start the Saemaul Undong in Cambodia."

 Meanwhile, in June of last year, YU was selected as an international cooperation leading university and will receive 1.6 billion won over the next four years in national funding to export the Saemaul Undong and Saemaul science overseas. From April of this year, they were selected for the master's degree program operating institute for the 'leader and faculty fostering project for regional development of emerging countries' from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Thus, YU will receive a total of 3.6 billion won for the next three years and educate 36 public officials, workers and faculty of emerging countries every year (108 over 3 years) as they play a leading role in fostering global leaders and social contribution activities for global co-prosperity.