President Yoon Seok-yeol said on the 5th, “We will never give up and complete the four major reforms,” and added, “The spirit of the Saemaeul Movement is more urgent than ever.”
President Yoon attended the 2024 National Saemaul Leaders’ Conference held at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do this morning and said, “Because reform is always accompanied by resistance, previous governments failed and gave up on reform.”
President Yoon said, “The four major reforms of healthcare, pension, labor, and education are desperate structural reform tasks that cannot guarantee the survival of the country if they are not done immediately.”
President Yoon again expressed his determination to complete the four major reforms following next year’s budget speech, senior secretary meeting, and prime minister’s weekly meeting the previous day.
Since his first year in office, President Yoon has attended the Saemaul Leaders Conference for three consecutive years and encouraged members across the country.
The Saemaul Movement Central Association, a statutory organization established in 1980, currently has approximately 1,798,000 active members in 18 city/provincial branches, 228 city/county/gu branches, and 3,533 town/myeon/dong organizations.
President Yoon evaluated that the spirit of the Saemaeul Movement was the driving force behind the growth of Korea, which was the poorest country after the war, into the world’s 10th largest economy.
At the same time, President Yoon said, “We are now facing unprecedented crises and challenges,” and pointed out internal and external crisis factors such as the war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, low birth rate, aging population, and low growth.
President Yoon said, “The spirit of the Saemaul Movement, which turned a crisis into an opportunity, is more urgent than ever,” and “We must revive the spirit of the Saemaul Undong and turn the crisis into a stepping stone for Korea’s great leap forward.”
President Yoon mentioned the spirit of Saemaul Undong, such as diligence, self-help, and cooperation, and asked, “Saemaul leaders and you all to take the lead so that we can rekindle this spirit and move toward a future of leap forward and prosperity.”
In recognition of their contributions to revitalizing local communities and implementing carbon neutrality, President Yoon personally awarded medals, decorations, and commendations to 17 people, including Chungbuk Saemaeul Women’s Association President Kwak Myeong-soon (Saemaeul Medal Self-help Medal).
President Yoon also performed a performance declaring the vision of the Saemaul Undong with members who attended the event.
At the luncheon, President Yoon said, “If our people strengthen their faith and will in the spirit of the Saemaeul Movement, the Republic of Korea will be able to take a grand leap forward, even though it may seem difficult at the moment.”
In addition, President Yoon said, “In order to put into practice the vision of a global pivotal nation, it is important for the Republic of Korea to contribute reliably and responsibly to the peace and prosperity of the international community,” and added, “The Saemaeul Movement is playing an important role in realizing the vision of a global pivotal nation.” He said.
A total of 10,000 people attended the event, including Kim Gwang-lim, president of the Saemaeul Federation, who took office last July, as well as city and provincial presidents, university club associations, and youth federations across the country.
From the government, Vice Minister of Public Administration and Security Ko Ki-dong, from the President’s Office, Jeon Gwang-sam, Senior Secretary for Civil Society, and from related organizations, Kang Seok-ho, President of the Liberty Korea Federation, and Kim Sang-hoon, President of the Central Council for Living Uprightly, were present.
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Interview: Time.news Editor and Saemaul Movement Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re diving into the significance of the Saemaul Movement and its relationship to contemporary Korean society. Joining us is Dr. Min-Jae Lee, a recognized expert on the Saemaul Movement and its implications for modern reforms. Doctor, thank you for being here.
Dr. Lee: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to discuss such an important topic.
**Editor