Quit as college instructor in 2013 and enrolled at the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul
Earned master's degree in Saemaul Undong Theory and Practice in 1 year and 6 months and awarded best poster paper award
Ambassador of Papua New Guinea attends diploma ceremony on the 22nd
[Aug 22, 2014]
< Papua New Guinea Ambassador to Korea Bill Veri (third from left) attended the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul to congratulate the reception of a master's degree by a Papua New Guinean student Uno (fourth from left). >
“After graduating, I will return to Papua New Guinea and take the lead in spreading the Saemaul Undong!”
An international student who came to YU from the island country in the South Pacific, Papua New Guinea, finally made his dream come true after a year and a half.
This person is Konisimo Uno (30). At 12:30 p.m. on the 22nd, he received his master's degree for majoring in 'Saemaul Undong Theory and Practice' at the 2013 diploma ceremony held at the YU Cheonma Art Center Sapphire Hall. This was 1 year and 6 months after enrolling in the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul master's degree program in March of 2013. He was awarded the best poster paper award at the ceremony and had the honor to make a speech on behalf of the graduating students.
Papua New Guinea Ambassador to Korea Bill Veri (59) also came to congratulate his reception of this diploma. Ambassador Veri praised Uno saying, "He is the first citizen of Papua New Guinea to major in and receive a diploma in the Saemaul Undong," and added, "Please do your best as an expert of the Saemaul Undong so that it can take root in Papua New Guinea."
Uno served as a biology instructor at the University of Goroka in Papua New Guinea before coming to YU. However, he quit his job at the university with the passion to become the cornerstone for development similar to Korea in Papua New Guinea. He gave up the career he built up in order to come to YU and learn the completely new field of 'Saemaul Sciences'.
His new challenge began after meeting a Korean businessman. After learning about the Saemaul Undong and Korea's development history from a businessman who lived in Papua New Guinea for 25 years, he heard news of recruiting applicants for the Saemaul Undong training program in Gumi, which he applied to and was selected for. And then in November 2012, after setting foot in Korea as part of a six member training delegation that included two government officials of Papua New Guinea, he spent two weeks for the Saemaul Undong training hosted by the City of Gumi.
During the training, he finally knew what his dream was. After becoming determined to receive more systematic education and training on the Saemaul Undong, he finally enrolled in the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul in March of 2013. He never missed a day in his major of 'Saemaul Undong Theory and Practice' that organized the Saemaul Undong and Saemaul spirit into an academic discipline from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, and studied as hard as he could.
He explained, "During my training program in 2012, I learned that current Papua New Guinea was in a very similar situation as that of Korea in the 1960s. That is why I became confident that by studying the development process of Korea, it would be possible to overcome underdevelopment in Papua New Guinea," and added, "MY purpose of studying here is to find ways to integrate the Saemaul Undong in my country through more specific and practical studies."
He also stated, "If I have the opportunity, I want to go on to my PhD program at YU." He added, "But for now, I would like to go back home and spread the Saemaul Undong and spirit that I learned here. I also want to help more people in Papua New Guinea to participate in Saemaul Undong educational programs in Korea."
At the graduation ceremony of the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul, 19 students from 14 countries including Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Senegal, Nepal and the United States received their master's degree.
Meanwhile, YU held its 2013 second half graduation ceremony at the Cheonma Art Center Chamber Hall at 10:30 a.m. on the 22nd. 1,629 students received their bachelor's 472 received their master's and 74 received their doctorate's. Also, Kang Sun-ja, who transferred to the Japanese Language and Literature Department in 2010, received her bachelor's at the age of 60. 153 international students (78 bachelors. 58 masters, 17 doctorates) received their diplomas at YU including Mohar Dey (27) from India who received his PhD in mechanical engineering.
