Following the Korean speech contest, the ‘Global Saemauler Chuseok Festival’ was held. A total of about 70 people including students and professors at the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul experienced traditional Korean cultures through samul-nori, jegi-chagi, etc. International students from around the world also demonstrated their traditional dances to help elevate understanding on the cultures of various countries.
YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul Director Kim Gi-soo who prepared for this event said, “By making a speech in Korean about what they learned and experienced while studying in Korea, they gained the opportunity to more effectively train in Korean and to gain deeper insight on Korean culture. I hope that you they will be able to experience various traditional Korean cultures and make good memories from studying in Korea through this opportunity.” He also added, “I hope that the knowledge and Korean language skills that students picked up at the Park Chung Hee School will help them develop their countries and create networks with Korea once they return to their home countries.”
Meanwhile, YU established the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul to foster global Saemaul leaders in developing countries back in November 2011. Unlike international students in general undergraduate and graduate schools, international students at the Park Chung Hee School are comprised of public employees and public agency workers who plan and execute policies in their home countries, social activists and professionals. They can earn their master’s degree and study Korean over a relatively short study-abroad period of 18 months and YU offers various traditional Korean cultural events such as Korean speech contests to help them gain a broad assortment of experiences on Korean culture. There are currently 49 next-generation leaders from 20 countries studying at the Park Chung Hee School and as of now, a total of 539 people from 63 countries around the world including from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas learned the successful development experience of Korea. They have since then returned to their home countries to spread the Saemaul spirit and furthermore, they are effectively applying the Saemaul Undong for the local social development of their countries.
