By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

 

A meaningful Saemaul flag raising ceremony was held on Nanggye-ro 25-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Saemaul movement and the 15th Saemaul Day on the afternoon of April 29.

 

 

More than 200 members of the Saemaul family attended the ceremony, including Representative Kwak Sang-un, Jongno-gu Mayor Chung Moon-heon, Jongno-gu Council Chairman Ra Do-gyun, and Seoul City Saemaul Association President Kim Yeon-po, to recall the spirit of the Saemaul movement that connects the past and present and to take a step of hope for the future.

 

“Today's raising of the Saemaul flag is not just a commemoration, but a symbolic promise to convey the core values of the Saemaul movement of hard work, self-help, and cooperation to future generations,” said Park Nae-chun, chairman of the Jongno-gu Saemaul Association, who organized the event. “We will continue to take care of the elderly, clean up the environment, and recover from disasters,” he said.

 

 

“The Saemaul Movement is not just a legacy of the past, but a foundation for national development that is still valid today,” said Jongno-gu Mayor Chung Moon-heon in his congratulatory remarks, adding, "In order for a nation to thrive, the village must be revived. The movement to revitalize villages is the way to revitalize the country," he said.

 

Seoul City Saemaul Association President Kim Yeon-po said, “The Saemaul movement is a representative mental asset of Korea that raises the national character and communicates with the world,” and emphasized the potential for international cooperation.

 

 

Jongno-gu Council Chairman Ra Do-gyun also expressed his deep appreciation and praise, saying, “Since Chairman Park Nae-chun took office, the Jongno Saemaul Movement has become more vibrant.”

 

 

This year's slogan, “Saemaul Together, Future to the World!” symbolizes that the Saemaul Movement is evolving into a future community movement that is not limited to local transformation, but extends beyond the country to the world. The slogan symbolizes the movement's modern direction toward sustainable development with local residents.

 

 

Finally, Chairman Park Nae-chun concluded, "The Saemaul Movement is still an ongoing process. We are walking again today toward a country that lives well together and villages that live together. I hope that this small step that started in Jongno will change Korea and become a spark of hope that will light up the world."

 

 

Based on this pledge, the Jongno Saemaul Association plans to take the lead in realizing a ‘community living together’ by practicing life closer to residents.

 

 

Under the flag of Saemaul, Jongno continues to walk together today.