Dr. Choi Oe-chool, the president of Yeungnam University (YU) since 2021 in the Republic of Korea, has played a pivotal role in bringing global recognition to the Saemaul Undong (Korea’s community development policy ; New Village Movement), a cornerstone of Korea's rapid socioeconomic transformation since the 1970s. His dynamic leadership has transformed Saemaul Studies into a vibrant interdisciplinary field, aligning it with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

In modernizing the Saemaul Undong, Dr. Choi developed 'Saemaul Spirit 2.0', blending 'Sharing,' 'Service,' and 'Creativity' with its core values. This has been instrumental in both international development initiatives and Korean Official Development Assistance (ODA) models.

His tenure at YU has been marked by significant advancements, notably the establishment of the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (PSPS) in 2011, where he served as the first Dean. Since then, PSPS has awarded Master's degrees to 824 students from 71 countries, primarily targeting government employees. As the Founding Director of YU’s Institute for International Development Cooperation (IIDC), Dr. Choi has overseen the establishment of over 50 MOUs and the delivery of capacity-building programs to more than 4,000 individuals from over 50 countries since 2013. He also founded the 'Department of Saemaul International Development' at YU, offering both Master's and Doctoral programs.

Furthering his commitment to global development, Dr. Choi has been actively working to facilitate the creation of 'Departments of Saemaul Economic Development' in over ten countries and has been a key figure in promoting the “Smart Saemaul Undong”, aimed at transferring suitable technology to developing countries. Additionally, his initiatives at YU include the Office of Social Contribution, the ESG Center, and a course on 'Social Contribution and Volunteering' that educate students on global citizenship awareness.

Dr. Choi's journey from receiving a Saemaul Scholar Fellowship as an undergraduate at YU in 1976 to becoming a visionary global Saemaul Undong leader encapsulates a significant impact, transforming his dream of a safer, happier world into a tangible legacy, spanning borders and impacting generations.