Yoon: "We Must Reaffirm the Saemaul Spirit That Achieved Rapid Growth" (Comprehensive)

2023 National Saemaeul Leaders 'Youth's Promise' Proclamation Ceremony
"Youth Will Lead the Global Expansion of Saemaeul"

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 12th, "We must now recall the Saemaul spirit that drove past rapid growth and unite through innovation and creativity."

On the afternoon of the same day, at the 2023 National Saemaul Leaders Conference 'Youth Promise' proclamation ceremony held at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, President Yoon mentioned the ongoing low birthrate and low growth crisis that has persisted for decades, saying, "We must achieve the past leap in growth once again."

President Yoon said, "The remarkable growth and prosperity of the Republic of Korea so far was possible because of the people's will of 'Let's live well once too' and the belief that 'We can do it.' And there were great leaders who guided this will and belief. The Saemaul spirit of diligence, self-help, and cooperation united our people and became the foundation for growth and prosperity. All of you here, and your predecessors in the Saemaul Movement, are the main actors who made today's Korea," he evaluated.

President Yoon emphasized, "When the Saemaul Movement spirit spreads beyond Korea to the international community and carries out solidarity and cooperation with the international community, we can leap forward vigorously once again."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also positively evaluated the expansion of the Saemaul Movement to the younger generation. President Yoon mentioned, "It is very pleasing and encouraging that last year and this year, the National University Saemaul Club Federation and the National Youth Saemaul Federation were launched, and the Saemaul Movement continues with the youth as the future generation."

He continued, "I believe our youth will lead the global expansion of the Saemaul Movement," and emphasized, "The youth who have joined the Saemaul Movement will strengthen global solidarity even more."

He then encouraged, "The Saemaul Movement, which once led village improvement and rural innovation, is now developing into a movement that leads innovation in cities, workplaces, and industries in the advanced industrial society, and this innovation movement will spread across the globe, making Korea a global pivotal country."

President Yoon also said, "Let us recreate the Korea of past rapid growth based on the Saemaul Movement and revive that glory. Let us build a nation of innovation newly constructed by the great people," and promised that the government would join in this effort.

The presidential office explained that this proclamation ceremony was organized as a place to share the noble spirit and values of the Saemaul Movement and to pledge 'coexistence and integration' for a happy Korea and a warm community living well together for the common prosperity of humanity, 'practice and action' for a clean and beautiful Earth in response to the climate crisis, and 'solidarity and cooperation' for world peace and sustainable development.

President Yoon awarded the Saemaul Medal to four individuals recognized for their contributions to activities such as the Safe Patrol Team, Gobu Love, and Gobu Outings; five individuals received the Saemaul Decoration for contributions to managing the Saemaul Library and opening small libraries; and two individuals received the Presidential Citation.

About 7,000 people attended the event, including Kwak Dae-hoon, chairman of the Saemaul Movement Central Association, chairpersons of metropolitan city and provincial branches nationwide, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, People Power Party leader Kim Gi-hyeon, floor leader Yoon Jae-ok, Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo, Assemblyman Song Seok-jun, and from the Democratic Party of Korea, Assemblyman Kim Tae-nyeon.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.