South Korea launches Saemaul Diplomacy Group to boost international cooperation

The Saemaul Undong Central Association convened the inaugural meeting of the Saemaul Diplomacy Group (SDG) on Friday at Yonsei University in Seoul. The event brought together foreign envoys based in South Korea and domestic and international stakeholders to foster global understanding and cooperation.

The SDG is a privately led public diplomacy platform established by the Saemaul Undong Central Association. Its primary objective is to build a regular communication channel with diplomatic missions in Korea. This aims to share the principles and successes of the Saemaul Undong movement with the international community and to reinforce the foundation for international collaboration, particularly with developing nations.

Recent growth in the Saemaul Undong Global League (SGL), now comprising 51 member countries, highlights increasing international interest. The SDG was created to facilitate continuous exchange with embassies of SGL partner countries in Korea, thereby promoting the global expansion of Saemaul Undong and strengthening policy alignment among cooperating nations.

The meeting featured an opening ceremony, a keynote lecture, case presentations, and a session for ambassadorial remarks. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered a video congratulatory message, emphasizing that the Saemaul movement's experience is a story the world needs now. Kim Jun-kyung, Dean of the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, delivered the keynote address on how South Korea transformed its rural communities through the movement. The association plans to organize regular seminars, field trips, and visits to the Saemaul History Museum to deepen engagement with foreign diplomats.