Yeungnam University President Choi Oe-chul delivers a special lecture at an African Group of Ambassadors meeting in Seoul. [Yeungnam University]
Yeungnam University President Choi Oe-chul delivers a special lecture at an African Group of Ambassadors meeting in Seoul. [Yeungnam University]

Yeungnam University President Choi Oe-chul delivered a special lecture Friday at the Seoul Club, at the invitation of the African Group of Ambassadors (AGA) in Korea.

The lecture was arranged through a formal invitation from AGA Chairman Chafik Rachadi, Morocco's ambassador to South Korea.

Ambassadors and diplomats from 20 African countries attended, including representatives from Morocco, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Choi led the hour-long session under the theme "Key Drivers of Korea's Development and Ideas for Sharing — Focusing on Yeungnam University's Case of Training Saemaul Undong Experts."

He outlined the achievements of the Saemaul Undong, or New Village Movement, in helping South Korea overcome extreme poverty and emerge as a developed nation. He also described how Yeungnam University had systematized the movement into an academic discipline — "Saemaul Studies" — and developed it into a global education program.

Dessie Dalkie Dukamo, Ethiopia's ambassador to South Korea, said he was grateful to Choi "for gracing the AGA monthly meeting and delivering a very inspiring and insightful lecture."

"It is deeply meaningful to have been able to share Korea's development experience and Yeungnam University's achievements in Saemaul Studies with diplomats representing Africa, at the invitation of the African Group of Ambassadors," Choi said. "This lecture will be one of the most unforgettable moments in Yeungnam University's journey in education diplomacy."


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