'Learning the Saemaeul Undong!'... Touadera, President of Central African Republic, Visits Gumi

Saemaeul Undong Theme Park Holds Commemorative Tree Planting Ceremony and Discusses Central African Republic National Transformation Project

Visit to President Park Chunghee Historical Archives to Experience Korea's Economic Development and Industrialization Process

On June 6, the city of Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province announced that Faustin-Archange Touadera, President of the Central African Republic, and his delegation visited Gumi to benchmark Korea's Saemaul Undong experience.

President Touadere of the Central African Republic visits Gumi.

President Touadera visited Korea from June 4 to June 5 to attend the first-ever Korea-Africa Summit, and on June 6, he visited Gumi.

A commemorative tree planting ceremony was held in front of the tree that President Touadera personally planted on May 9, 2022, at the Saemaul Undong Theme Park Plaza. The delegation then moved to the Saemaul Foundation, where a meeting was held regarding the "Central African Republic National Transformation Project" following the signing of an MOU between North Gyeongsang Province, Ajin Industry, and the Saemaul Foundation. The city also presented the delegation with a commemorative wristwatch symbolizing Gumi and a Saemaul Undong vest and badge.

The Central African Republic delegation visited the Park Chunghee Presidential History Museum, where they learned about the achievements of President Park Chunghee and viewed various exhibits, experiencing Korea's modernization and industrialization process firsthand.

President Touadera stated, "I am delighted to visit Gumi, which stands at the center of Korea's remarkable economic development. I will apply the Saemaul Undong spirit learned in Gumi to the Central African Republic and lead our country to prosperity, just like Korea."

Mayor Kim Jangho said, "Just as President Park Chunghee led Korea's economic development and logistics revolution based on his experience visiting West Germany, I hope the Central African Republic will learn much from Gumi's Saemaul Undong and grow. The city will actively participate in the globalization of Saemaul Undong in the Central African Republic going forward."

He also expressed his gratitude to Seo Jungho, CEO of Ajin Industry, who plays a major role in cooperation between the two countries, saying, "I hope Ajin Industry's warm humanitarian spirit will become a driving force for the company's growth."

Ajin Industry has supported the Central African Republic with approximately 4 billion KRW over six years from 2017 to 2022, promoting private diplomacy activities. On November 8, 2023, it signed an MOU with North Gyeongsang Province and the Saemaul Foundation, officially pledging its support.

Since 1994, Gumi has spread the Saemaul Undong movement to nine developing countries through internationalization projects until 2013, and from 2014 to 2019, established overseas Saemaul pilot villages in Sri Lanka.

Since 2023, Gumi has been developing a pilot Saemaul village in Hoa Dinh Village, Bac Ninh City, Vietnam. As the birthplace of Saemaul Undong, the city is actively promoting a variety of projects with 25 township and village councils, women's associations, workplace councils, Saemaul libraries, youth Saemaul alliances, choirs, and traffic volunteer groups to practice the Saemaul spirit of diligence, self-help, and cooperation.

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