The Value of Saemaul Undong : South Korea Community Character Booster
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Vol. 1 No. 1 May 2017 The Value Of Saemaul Undong : South Korea Community Character Booster By: Kim Kim Min The Academy of Korean Studies e-mail: [email protected] Received: October 5, 2016 Accepted: May 15, 2017 Published: May 31, 2017 Abstract This research is motivated by the fact that many foreign companies are still have an orientation that a business is aimed at obtaining maximum profit by using capital as small as possible and justify any means. This is compounded by the fact that many of these companies make profits out of the occupied country without contributing towards the country. This condition triggers the urgency of the presence of the planting and preservation of good and strong character to nourish the existence of the company itself as well as the country they occupy. This study aims to reveal and define what and how the application of the teachings of Saemaul Undongas value in its implications for the development of values education. This study is designed using a qualitative approach with case study method. Data was collected by means of: observation, interview and document study. The results showed that the values of Saemaul Undongas become the spirit of good and strong character building which is basically built by the value of discipline, self-reliance and mutual cooperation. Implications of the study provides an overview to the Indonesian multi- ethnic that values the life of a powerful nation that should begin with the initial value that is the value of the next. In addition, it can be developed by the Public Education by trying to adopt and manipulate Saemaul Undongas training model for the value of diligent, independent, mutual cooperation and development in accordance with the needs of the desired value. Thus, from this article can be raised a proposition that “if countries want to move forward, then make the value in the life of the society as a reference”. Keywords : Saemaul Undongas, Good Character and Strong (Baku), Value Independence, of Mutual Cooperation and Discipline 46 Vol. 1 No. 1 Mei 2017 I. Introduction Indonesia as a developing country The company is one of the important continues to improve its performance in elements in the economic development of a attracting foreign companies to invest in country. Economic development can work well Indonesia. The lack of employment if the company has responsibilities to opportunities for Indonesians makes shareholders, employees, consumers, Indonesians willing to work at any wage below communities and the environment associated the minimum wage (regional minimum wage). with the company’s operations (Mulyadi, et al, It can lead to irregularities, because the 2012, p. 900). However, many of the foreign tendency of Indonesian society that companies are only profiting from a state consumerism make anyone willing to work occupied without providing benefits for the anything in any way. This is starting to be country. This is due to corporate social addressed by foreign companies in developing responsibility (Corporate Social Responsibility) the business with the perspective of the value felt heavy and become the burden of foreign of Saemaul Undong teachings. It is intended companies. So there is the assumption that that workers who work in the company other business activities are dirty, containing deceit, than to work, they are also trained or and always siding with the strong (Gustina, familiarized in developing the good and strong 2008, p. 146). Whereas business must go on character and value of Saemaul Undong as a profitable social communication for the teachings, which in the end the Indonesian parties involved (Bertens, 2000, p 17). people have good character and strong as the The situation is very worrying this very big main capital in work. and rich nation (read Indonesia). Most people just understand business is a business, which II. Results and Discussion aims to generate as much profit as possible by using the smallest capital and get the most profit, 2.1. The idea of Saemaul Undong so that the ‘businessperson’ justifies any means The word “Saemaul” comes from the word to make a profit, how to obtain raw materials, “sae”, which means progressive reform based Where production, manpower, management, on past experience, the word “maul”, referring and marketing are done as effectively and as to rural, regional and social society. Saemaul efficiently as possible. It makes businesspeople Undong can be literally interpreted as the New less likely to pay attention to social responsibility Village Movement (Park, 2002. pp. 4). and ignore business ethics. In the end, business Saemaul Undong can be defined as a new people start to abandon the prevailing norms community movement where people work and often do deviations that ultimately do not together to build better and wealthy villages. pay attention to the condition around it. The Saemaul Undong movement is a movement Indonesia as one of the developing intended to develop and modernize rural areas. countries that have high consumption power This concept was introduced in 1971 when into the target of some foreign companies as a South Korea faced the problem of rural-urban promising business opportunity, looks how the disparity due to development priorities that Indonesian people are very consumptive in always emphasized export-oriented terms of changing electronic goods like Mobile. industrialization. The aim is to raise the spirit of It can not be denied how foreign electronic independence (indipendence), self-help (self- companies in Indonesia flocked to offer a help) to realize the new village movement, and variety of flagship products. cooperation or mutual cooperation (Mutual The Value Of Saemaul Undong : South Korea Community 47 Character Booster | Kim Kim Min Cooperation) in order to improve the living (2) The movement is to improve the physical standards of local communities. The essence and social environment. (3) The movement is of Saemaul Undong is a form of development to increase the income and productivity of rural from below based on local initiative and areas (Park, et al, 2002, p 7). participation. This activity is realized through the formation of local community cooperatives 2.2. Motivation of Saemaul Undong based on local initiatives, the utilization of labor The first person to issue Saemaul Undong’s and their materials and skills (Mochtar, 1996). idea was President Park Chuung-Hee on April To reduce the economic disparity between 22, 1970 during a South Korean governor’s the village and the city, President Park launched meeting. He came from a poor farmer’s son the New People Movement with the aim of asking the local administration workers to enlightening the rural people through “new provide a new rural development program that community education” to change the traditional could attract attention and increase the spirit of views and behavior of ties and the poverty of village farmers and fishermen so they can learn the villagers, helping to develop crafts and about wisdom and help each other so that they savings, Cooperation and self-help, and create an independent community (Park, et al, modernizing rural communities (Darini, 2009, 2002, p. 7). Saemaul’s education is an essential pp. 9). component of the SU movement, in that it is First, Saemaul Undong greatly contributes able to foster discipline among rural to eradicate poverty, the effectiveness of populations, to awaken within it the three development policies and support by the components of Saemaul spirit, and to educate government creates harmony between the them about the economic benefits of adopting community and the government, resulting in modern agricultural and industrial technology cooperation between the two sides. Strategic (Bank, 2012, p. 16-17). government policies are able to motivate citizens to overcome poverty in their own way and 1. Training programs and methods; effort. Second, Saemaul Undong carries out Saemaul Education required all the modernization of rural communities by participants to remain in an isolated training means of a comprehensive development camp together for a period of 1 week or even approach. Saemaul Undong creates a new longer. Programs for a 1-week training camp workplace that contributes to higher income for of 105 hours, as well as an 11-day program its people. Thirdly, Saemaul Undong has grown consisting of 104 hours of instruction, are into a national movement thanks to its summarized in Boxes 1-3. contribution in promoting a positive social This educational program is designed to atmosphere. Fourth, government policy through enhance participants’ understanding of the transition to export focus is driven by moral aspect of Saemaul spirit, how and why industrialization to sustain development along local community development takes place, and with agricultural and industrial sectors of how leadership Saemaul is established. agricultural productivity. Furthermore Saemaul Saemaul’s education changed the overall Undong illustrates the continuing efforts of new attitude of the participants by leading them and modern society in the future lives (Park, et through the stimulus cycle, reflection, resolution, al, 2002, p. 4). and practice. In Saemaul Undong’s idea there are 3 Changes in mentality through education at (three) kinds of interesting features as follows; the Training Institute for Saemaul, leaders (1) The movement is a soul / mental revolution. initiated the Saemaul Undong campaign of 48 Vol. 1 No. 1 Mei 2017 frugality, social cleansing, and settlement in their and women’s progress in the role of household families, neighborhoods, offices, and schools. management. Saemaul Undong is targeted to be able to change the mentality of society that will build 2. Objectives of Saemaul Undong; civil society in urban environment and Saemaul Undong’s goal, first is to assist or modernization based on rapid industrialization. facilitate the development and modernization Achieving this goal is necessary that the of society. This notion leads not only to the stereotypical mentality of selfishness and improvement of individual life, but also to the disorder must be reformed into altruism or whole life of the village community.