The New Community Movement， or Saemaul Undong， is a rural development plan that helped transform
Korea′s agricultural communities in the 1970s... an initiative that laid the groundwork
for Korea′s stellar economic growth. So， it′s no surprise that a growing number
of emerging economies are looking to Korea for the secret behind ″Miracle on the Han
River.″ Saemaul Undong goes global： our News Feature
tonight with Oh Soo－young. A movement for a better life stirred from
village to village in the 1970s， changing the destiny of Korea.
That was the Saemaul Undong initiative， a driving force that laid the groundwork for
the so－called Miracle on the Han River，... or Korea′s rapid economic growth， which
propelled the nation to become the thirteenth largest economy in the world today.
Now， Korea′s Saemaul Undong has become a global model for regional development. And
here in the city of Daegu， the second Global Saemaul Leadership Forum has opened.. with
leaders from Korea and all over the world.
2nd Global Saemaul Leadership Forum， Daegu Around one－hundred－sixty participants
have come from roughly forty countries. But they make up a mere fraction of some fifty－thousand
people who have come to Korea to study the movement since the 1970s.
″With this event hosted in Daegu City， the Saemaul Undong is on its way to becoming
a global movement to battle poverty.″ Based on diligence， self－help and cooperation，
the Saemaul Undong sparked the urbanization of Korea′s rural landscape.
″Leaders and experts from all over the world are coming to Korea to learn about the Saemaul
Undong movement， after learning how Korea developed from a low－income country to a
prosperous nation through the movement in the 1970s.″
Since it took off， the Saemaul Undong boosted income levels across the country， increasing
per－capita income more than five－fold from roughly 250 U.S. dollars in the 1970s
to more than 16－hundred dollars in a mere decade.
As such， international organizations including the UN General Assembly， WHO， and APEC
are observing the Saemaul Undong as a viable model for defeating poverty.
Until now， development models were centered on top－down assistance or aid.
But what sets Korea apart is the sense of empowerment it gives to communities.
″We are used to at least in my country， to get so much assistance from other countries
but that mainly involves money， not mindset to change.″
Developing countries， in particular， are eager to learn how to adapt and apply this
approach in their own communities.
″My first impression of the Saemaul Undong is how it reflects the great heart of Korea.
The movement did not just flourish in Korea but also reached out to other parts of the
world to decrease poverty，... which means we can develop together despite our differences.
I would like to say this is the best gift for humankind.″
″The Global Saemaul Leadership Forum aims to eradicate poverty in the