Large-Scale 'Saemaul Education' Conducted in Ethiopia N
No.223814319- Writer 통합관리자
- Date : 2025.02.24 11:13
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Experts Dispatched in Large Numbers to Train Public Officials in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR)
Last Year, the Governor and Officials Visited Yeungnam University Twice at Their Own Expense for Training
Over 2,800 Participants from 67 Countries and 4 International Organizations Received 'Saemaul Undong' Training at Yeungnam University
[March 1, 2016]
A powerful wave of 'Saemaul Undong' is sweeping across Ethiopia, the only African country that sent ground troops to aid Korea during the Korean War. The epicenter of this movement is the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) in Southwestern Ethiopia, home to 56 ethnic groups and a population of 15 million.
From February 23rd to 28th, Yeungnam University conducted Saemaul Undong and the public official capacity-building training program for over 700 government officials in Hawassa, the capital city of SNNPR.
To operate this training program, Yeungnam University dispatched a large group of Saemaul Undong experts to Ethiopia. These instructors consisted of professors and researchers from Yeungnam University’s Institute for International Development Cooperation (Director: Choi Oe-chool), the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (Dean: Park Seung-woo), and the Department of Saemaul and International Development. They provided theoretical and practical knowledge on the principles of Saemaul development, rural development through Saemaul Undong, economic development, and afforestation strategies.
Prior to the training program, an opening ceremony was held at the regional government office on the morning of February 23 (local time). The ceremony was attended by Dessie Dalkie Dukamo, SNNPR Governor (pictured on the right), Tesfaye, Deputy Governor Agriculture Bureau, Germame, Deputy Director, and other senior government officials and regional leaders, demonstrating their keen interest in Saemaul Undong.
Governor Dessie stated in his opening speech, "Korea’s experience with Saemaul Undong will provide significant lessons for rural development in SNNPR." He also requested Director Choi Oe-chool of the Institute for International Development Cooperation to serve as an advisor to the regional government on Saemaul development (pictured on the left). In response, Director Choi accepted the advisory role and pledged, "Yeungnam University will share its accumulated theoretical and practical achievements in Saemaul development with SNNPR and actively cooperate in Ethiopia's efforts to overcome poverty.“
This training program was initiated at the strong request of Governor Dessie. In February of the previous year, a delegation of high-ranking officials, including the governor himself, visited Yeungnam University twice to receive Saemaul Undong training. Governor Dessie became convinced that Saemaul Undong was an effective development strategy for Ethiopia and officially requested that all high-level leaders in SNNPR be educated in its principles. With support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Yeungnam University’s on-site training program in Ethiopia was realized.
The success of this program was significantly influenced by Nuredin Mohammed Kemal (36), who studied at the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul while serving as a government official in Ethiopia. After completing his studies, Nuredin persistently persuaded the governor and senior officials of SNNPR that Ethiopia must actively learn from Korea’s Saemaul Undong for its development. As a result, in February of the previous year, Governor Dessie and a delegation of high-ranking officials visited Yeungnam University. Following their visit, awareness of Saemaul Undong spread rapidly among SNNPR officials, accelerating the implementation of this large-scale on-site training.
One particularly noteworthy aspect is that the Ethiopian Saemaul Undong training delegation at that time covered all expenses themselves. Given that most education programs for developing countries in Korea are typically conducted as fully Korea-sponsored training, it is highly exceptional that, despite financial difficulties, Ethiopian officials allocated their own budget to travel to Korea for training.
The Saemaul Undong training conducted by Yeungnam University this time also carries a sense of gratitude and reciprocity for Ethiopia’s support and sacrifices during the Korean War, as well as for the self-reliant efforts of the SNNPR high-ranking official delegation who visited Yeungnam University at their own expense last year.
Professor Choi Oe-chool, Director of the Institute for International Development Cooperation (and Vice President of Yeungnam University), who oversaw the Saemaul Undong training program in Ethiopia, stated, "Korea owes much to the brave Ethiopian soldiers who came to defend our nation's freedom and peace from communist aggression during the Korean War, more than a decade before diplomatic relations between our countries were established. Now that Korea has emerged as a donor country in international development, we have a historical responsibility to strengthen our acts of gratitude by sharing our experiences and achievements with the global community.“
Up to the present time, a total of 2,864 participants from 67 countries and 4 international organizations have received Saemaul Undong training at Yeungnam University. Among them, Ethiopia accounts for 1,422 participants, reflecting the strong momentum of Saemaul Undong in the country.