ANDONG — Gyeongsangbuk-do has achieved a historic milestone, securing its first presidential institutional citation for the Saemaul Undong in 53 years during the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s 2026 government commendation ceremony.

The province’s top-tier government honor highlights its extensive efforts to internationalize South Korea’s historic rural modernization drive. Key achievements cited include the successful setup of pilot villages across 16 nations and the education of more than 300 global development leaders from nearly 50 countries.

Over the past half-century, Gyeongbuk has continuously adapted the core tenets of the movement—diligence, self-help, and cooperation—to meet modern socio-economic challenges, focusing heavily on global outreach, leadership training, and grassroots community building.

On the global front, the provincial government collaborated with the Saemaul Foundation to host high-level international ministerial forums drawing hundreds of delegates from over 30 countries. The initiative has reached deep into developing regions, launching community pilot projects in 90 villages abroad and executing large-scale national development frameworks in nations like Sri Lanka and the Central African Republic. To anchor these efforts academically and practically, regional research centers have been established at universities overseas, including institutions in Vietnam and the Central African Republic.

Domestically and educationally, the province has institutionalized the movement into higher education by backing specialized graduate programs, while grooming thousands of local and international practitioners to lead future Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects. Moreover, youth engagement has taken center stage through inter-regional university exchange programs, generational cultural centers, and newly introduced youth-focused civic education initiatives.

Local welfare has similarly benefited from community-driven infrastructure improvements, upgrading hundreds of neighborhood environments and residential spaces for vulnerable populations.

Looking ahead, provincial officials announced plans to usher in a "third-generation" Saemaul movement. By integrating artificial intelligence and expanding pathways for younger demographics, Gyeongbuk aims to transform the 20th-century community movement into a digitally advanced, globally connected framework for sustainable local development.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]