Introduction

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.