Samaeul Undong (New Village Movement)

Another case I’d like to share with you is a community development program in the 1970’s, called Saemaul Undong, New Village Movement in direct translation.

It’s quite a story of community spirit and innovation, and it’s something that can inspire us even today when we think about sustainable development and community building. So, South Korea in the early 70s was really struggling with poverty, especially in rural areas. The government launched the Saemaul Undong with the hope of revitalizing these areas. They started by distributing cement and steel to each village for them to build whatever they needed most, like roads, bridges, or warehouses. It sounds simple, right? But the real kicker was how they did it.

They didn’t just hand out resources and hope for the best; they ignited a competitive and cooperative spirit among villages to use these resources wisely.

The results? They were pretty remarkable. Villages transformed, living conditions improved, and there was a real sense of achievement among the people.

Why don’t we watch this video summarizing Saemaul Undong before continuing our discussion.

Introduction of Saemaul Undong

Imagine you and your neighbors deciding how to use a bunch of resources that just landed on your doorstep. Some communities built irrigation systems, others fixed roads, and some constructed buildings for community use.

There was a very famous motto. “Diligence, Self-Help, Cooperation” These three words really sum up what it was all about.

it wasn’t just about physical transformations. The movement really pushed for self-help, hard work, and cooperation. It kind of reshaped the national ethos at a time when South Korea was figuring out its path to development. People were encouraged to not just wait for government handouts but to take initiative and improve their own circumstances.

Now, moving this into our context today, think about how this model can inspire solutions for global challenges. We talk a lot about sustainable development goals these days, right? Saemaul Undong touches on several of these goals—like good health, quality education, and sustainable cities and communities. By fostering a sense of community ownership and participation, similar strategies could potentially help in other regions facing their own sets of challenges.

Yet, there were some criticisms too. The movement was top-down in many ways, with the government steering the direction of development. Some critics argue this approach can stifle creativity or lead to unequal distribution of resources. Plus, not every project was a success, and the intense focus on productivity sometimes overlooked the importance of cultural and social needs.

So, if we’re to take lessons from the Saemaul Undong for today’s world, we might ask ourselves: How do we balance government leadership and community involvement in development projects? How do we ensure that while we strive for economic growth, we also take care of social and cultural wellbeing?

Imagine applying these ideas to your own community. What project would you start? How would you ensure that everyone in the community is involved and benefits?

These are crucial questions to consider as we think about not just improving our neighborhoods, but also about how we can contribute to global sustainability goals. This chat I am having with you might just be a starting point, but these ideas from decades ago have the potential to spark initiatives that address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

What do you think? Where do you see opportunities for applying these principles in today’s world?