Saemaul

Saemaul, also known as the Saemaul Movement or the New Village Movement, is a rural development initiative in South Korea launched in 1970 to modernize rural areas and reduce the gap with urban centers. Initiated under President Park Chung-hee, the program aimed to increase income, improve living conditions, and promote national cohesion by mobilizing rural communities.

Central to Saemaul were three guiding principles: diligence, self-help, and cooperation. Communities were organized into local committees that coordinated voluntary labor and mutual aid, with support from government agencies and local authorities. Residents were encouraged to contribute cash, materials, and labor to village improvements, while receiving training in management, project planning, and maintenance.

Typical projects included housing upgrades to replace thatched or dilapidated homes, construction and paving of roads, improvements to water supply, drainage systems, lighting, sanitation facilities, and the establishment of public spaces such as wells and community centers. Standardized village profiles and quality standards were introduced to measure progress and incentivize improvements.

The movement expanded rapidly through the 1970s and contributed to substantial improvements in rural infrastructure, incomes, and national development indicators. It also fostered local organization and a sense of collective identity. Critics note that the program was state-led and sometimes coercive, and that its rapid pace could pressure communities. In the long term, Saemaul influenced subsequent rural development policies and left a legacy of community-driven development practices in South Korea.

See also: New Village Movement; Rural development; Korean modernization.