Yeungnam University is an educational leader in South Korea's Gyeongsang Province. It was formed in 1967 when the former President Park Chung Hee merged two private universities in the area. The university has developed considerably since then.
In the 1950s South Korea was wracked with poverty following the ravages of the Korean War. The industrial growth of the 1960s and 70s helped us overcome that, and helped establish the foundation of Korea's advanced development. The former President Park Chung Hee's leadership was instrumental in uniting Koreans in the face of overwhelming hardship. Though dedication and hard work the people were able to catapult Korea into modernization. In only fifty years the country went from being the poorest in the world to being a major economic powerhouse.
Our university established International Institute of Development Cooperation (IIDC) in 2013 in order to further realize the vision set forth by the former President Park Chung Hee. The international community has long looked to Korea as one of the greatest success stories of modernization. It is time to share the nation's development experience with the rest of the world.
Many developing nations have turned to Korea's performance in order to help address their own challenges. In Korea during the 1970s the biggest challenges came from inefficient agricultural practices and the socio- economic gap between rural and urban communities. The Saemaul Undong has been hailed as a key movement in overcoming those challenges.
The IIDC is focused on sharing the experience of Korea's development by spreading both the spirit and practical applications of the Saemaul Undong. In pursuit of this goal our university established a graduate program which brings together public servants, community leaders, politicians, professors, students, researchers, and social activists. Anyone who is serious about the eradication of poverty and the advancement of their community's wellbeing is welcome to join.
If you haven't yet found your calling in life, you should start your search here. There is nothing greater than working towards the betterment of humankind. Come and join us in the pursuit of mutual prosperity throughout the world. Best Regards,
LEE, Ju Hyoung
Director General,
Institute for International Development Cooperation