Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul recruits a number of scholars such as former professor at Seoul National University Jwa Seung-hee, former ambassador Cho Hwan-bok, former Korea Forest Service director Lee Don-goo, and former professor at Seoul National University Noh Hwa-joon [2015-3-18]
<Professor Jwa Seung-hee (left) and Visiting Professor Cho Hwan-bok for the 2015 school year at Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul>A number of scholars in fields related to the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul that passes on Korea's experiences including 'Saemaul Science' were recruited as professors.
For example, Jwa Seung-hee (68), a former professor at Seoul National University who is a celebrated economist who emphasized liberal market economics, was appointed as a chair professor at the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul from YU President Noh Seok-kyun. Professor Jwa earned his PhD in economics at UCLA and after working the US Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) economy research institute and serving as the director of the Korea Economic Research Institute, he worked as a guest professor at Seoul National University and the KDI Graduate School of International Policies. He also served as a presidential advisor for policy planning, government reforms, and strengthening of national competitiveness.
Former Ambassador Cho Hwan-bok (63), who was the first Korean to receive two medal of honors from the Mexican government, was also recruited as a guest professor at the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul from the new semester. Professor Cho majored in trade at Seoul National University and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1975 and served as the economy minister of the Korean embassy in China, consulate general in Hong Kong, secretary general of the Northeast Asia History Foundation, ambassador to Mexico, and director of the Saemaul Undong Center international cooperation committee.
In April 2013, Former Director of the Korea Forest Service Lee Dong-goo (69) and in March 2014, Former Seoul National University Professor Noh Hwa-joon (74) were appointed as chair professors for the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul. Professor Lee Don-goo earned his PhD in agricultural sciences at University of Iowa in the United States and served as the chairperson of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), joint president of the Forest of Life, and the dean of the Seoul National University College of Agriculture and Bio Sciences. He then served two terms as the 19th director of the Korea Forest Service from February 2011 to March 2013. Professor Noh Hwa-joon earned his PhD at Syracuse University in the US and served as the dean of the Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Administration, research professor of the US federal government's Environmental Agency and joint chairperson of the Public Administration Information Sharing Committee.
A common trait of these scholars is that they were key players in the development of Korea's economy who supported the 'Miracle of Hangang' in theory and in practice. Therefore, their field experiences will be truly 'living textbooks' for the education of the Saemaul Undong and Saemaul spirit. Accordingly, the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul recruited these figures as professors to provide very important experiences and knowledge to international students who came to study at YU with their own missions from under-developed countries.
Meanwhile, after establishing the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul that gives master's degrees in 'Saemaul sciences' for the first time in Korea in November 2011, YU opened the Department of Saemaul Studies and International Development as an undergraduate course in 2005 as it establishes as the world's only 'Saemaul Science' education institute. Furthermore, it is becoming a forward base for fulfilling the global social responsibilities of Korea by sharing the development experiences of Korea including the Saemaul Undong to high ranking government officials and other personnel from 60 different countries, as well as international organizations such as the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Asia Africa Rural Development Organization (AARDO) and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO).
