▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a visit to the Korea Saemaul Undong Center in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on May 14, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

president-Saemaul movement

Lee visits center for rural development initiative launched under ex-authoritarian gov't

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday visited a center for a once vigorously promoted rural development initiative launched under former authoritarian President Park Chung-hee, in what his office described as the first such visit by a liberal president.

Lee visited the Korea Saemaul Undong Center in Seongnam, south of Seoul, the headquarters of the namesake initiative, meaning "New Village Movement" in Korean, which was pursued under the late authoritarian president.

The movement is partly hailed for modernizing South Korea's rural economy at the time, but it also remains a symbol of Park's authoritarian rule, during which it was used to mobilize political support.

Cheong Wa Dae said the visit to the center marks the first such visit by a liberal president.

Lee acknowledged the "great success" achieved through the initiative in culture, the economy and social environment, saying it still has relevance today, referring to the center's ongoing volunteering activities.

The president also referred to the center's active international volunteer work, praising it and calling for a further expansion.

Transferring the know-how of the movement to foreign countries benefiting from South Korea's foreign assistance would also be helpful, he said.

Lee also emphasized the need for the center to maintain political neutrality.

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