On September 12, 2026, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH-VNUHCM) hosted the opening ceremony of the 2026 Global Saemaul Economic Cooperation Conference at its Saigon Campus. Themed “Beyond Official Development Assistance, Towards Co-prosperity: A New Era of Global Saemaul Economic Partnership,” the high-profile gathering brought together policymakers, academic leaders, corporate executives, and community representatives from Vietnam and South Korea. Discussions centered on pioneering new strategies for community development, economic integration, and cementing bilateral ties.

Saemaul 2026: From Community Development to Value Integration

Addressing the assembly, Mr. Hwang Myeong Suk, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, highlighted the enduring historical bonds between Vietnam and Gyeongsangbuk-do. He noted that these ties continue to flourish through grassroots cultural exchanges, educational initiatives, and strategic development programs.

Vietnam stands out as an early adopter of the globalized Saemaul movement, initiating local projects as early as 2005. Over two decades, these initiatives have expanded robustly, establishing localized models that lay the groundwork for cutting-edge research, academic training, and workforce development. Looking ahead, Mr. Hwang Myeong Suk expressed his vision for elevating the Vietnam - Gyeongsangbuk-do partnership beyond basic community support to encompass comprehensive human resource exchange, robust economic cooperation, and deeper cultural immersion.

Welcoming the delegation, Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, USSH-VNUHCM President and Director of the Center for Rural Development – Saemaul Undong, lauded the multifaceted ties between Gyeongsangbuk-do and Vietnam. She emphasized that past successes in culture, education, and rural agriculture now serve as a springboard for a new era of the Saemaul movement. To navigate the evolving rural landscape, Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan proposed three strategic shifts: moving from passive community assistance to active capacity building; transitioning from isolated projects to a highly integrated, multi-stakeholder collaborative ecosystem; and advancing from mere knowledge sharing to joint knowledge co-creation.

"From community support to community empowerment; from standalone projects to a collaborative ecosystem; from sharing experiences to co-creating new solutions," Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan stressed, charting the course for the Saemaul spirit to adapt to modern challenges. As Director of the Center for Rural Development, she highlighted that this framework demands the active participation of local authorities, academic institutions, businesses, and grassroots communities. USSH-VNUHCM is poised to spearhead this integration, bridging cutting-edge research and education with regional economic development between Ho Chi Minh City and Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Offering a macro-level perspective on community development, Mr. Le Minh Hoan, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly and former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, revisited the Saemaul movement's core tenets: "Diligence, Self-help, and Cooperation." He argued that the true measure of a developmental program lies not in physical infrastructure, but in community resilience. Real success, he noted, is achieved when citizens can collectively deliberate, take ownership, and sustain growth long after external aid concludes. He advocated for a paradigm shift: from "doing for the people" to "doing with the people," transforming beneficiaries into co-creators.

As rural areas integrate deeper into global supply chains, Mr. Le Minh Hoan stressed that the 21st-century Saemaul movement must evolve beyond connecting individuals within a village. It must plug communities directly into knowledge networks, technology hubs, and global markets. Consequently, the Vietnam-South Korea partnership must transcend transactional commerce, forging long-term collaborative ecosystems where farmers, cooperatives, enterprises, academics, and policymakers co-create unprecedented value.

Vietnam and South Korea Expand Saemaul Economic Partnership

Representing VNUHCM, Associate Professor Nguyen Minh Tam, Vice Chancellor of VNUHCM, framed the conference as far more than a standard academic exchange—it is a powerful demonstration of higher education’s social responsibility. He emphasized that universities must step out of traditional lecture halls and laboratories to directly tackle national challenges, empower local regions, and unlock new opportunities for the public.

Addressing modern rural development, Vice Chancellor Nguyen Minh Tam pointed out that today's complex issues demand a multifaceted approach. Viable solutions must seamlessly weave together agriculture, market dynamics, technology, environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and governance. This, he noted, perfectly aligns with VNUHCM's mission as a multidisciplinary powerhouse capable of mobilizing interdisciplinary resources to fuel regional growth.

Highlighting past milestones, he reflected on the 2016 launch of the Center for Rural Development – Saemaul Undong at USSH-VNUHCM, born from a strategic alliance with the Saemaul Foundation. Over nearly a decade in operation, the Center has spearheaded research, training, and community service initiatives across more than 30 provinces and cities. Through these efforts, it has successfully bridged international expertise with domestic demands, linking academic research to actionable policy and translating knowledge into grassroots impact.

Elaborating on the "beyond support" philosophy, Vice Chancellor Nguyen Minh Tam clarified that this vision does not diminish the value of aid. Instead, it marks an evolution from a donor-recipient dynamic to an equitable partnership. It signals a shift from short-term projects to enduring collaborative capabilities, focusing on co-creating new values and sharing sustainable outcomes rather than merely addressing immediate, short-term needs.

Looking ahead, he urged that future Saemaul programs must remain fiercely community-centric while expanding their scope from basic community development to deep rural economic integration. He called for transforming isolated encounters into a robust, continuous network where governments, universities, businesses, and communities collectively drive progress.

VNUHCM remains fully committed to empowering USSH-VNUHCM and the Center for Rural Development – Saemaul Undong to act as the central hub in this mission. By leveraging interdisciplinary strengths in research, innovation, and knowledge transfer, the university aims to solidify its strategic ties with Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, the Saemaul Foundation, Yeungnam University, and other South Korean partners.

Representing Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Mr. Kim Il-su, Chairman of the Administrative, Health and Welfare Committee of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Council, reflected on the Saemaul movement's foundational roots—simple, concrete actions designed to uplift families and transform living environments. He expressed high hopes that the core Saemaul spirit will continue to resonate deeply across Vietnam, acting as a catalyst for future cultural and economic exchanges between the two nations.

A major highlight of the opening program was the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Sustainable Co-prosperity and the Global Saemaul Economic Partnership. Inked by Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Yeungnam University, the Saemaul Foundation, and USSH-VNUHCM, this landmark agreement is anchored in two decades of mutual trust. It sets the stage for a new wave of impactful initiatives, aiming to synergize the unique strengths of each institution to roll out practical collaborations in research, education, and corporate-community networking.

Showcasing Innovation: The Vietnam - South Korea Exhibition Space Running concurrently with the main forum at the Saigon Campus, the Vietnam - South Korea Product Exhibition Space featured 14 dynamic booths. The showcase included eight South Korean corporate exhibitors, two booths highlighting Saemaul pilot villages in Vietnam, three dedicated to the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, and an exclusive pavilion by the Center for Rural Development – Saemaul Undong. The interactive space was designed to spotlight signature products and innovative models while fostering a vibrant networking hub for cross-border business opportunities. Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mr. Hwang Myeong Suk, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, reaffirmed Vietnam's pivotal role in the global expansion of the Saemaul movement. He voiced his strong belief that the tightening alliance between Gyeongsangbuk-do, Ho Chi Minh City, the Saemaul Foundation, and USSH-VNUHCM will position Vietnam as a central launchpad for propagating the Saemaul philosophy throughout Southeast Asia and the broader Asian region. Sharing the university's perspective, Associate Professor Luu Van Quyet, Vice President of USSH-VNUHCM, praised the exhibition as more than a mere product display. He framed it as a strategic incubator for future alliances, noting that such initiatives perfectly bridge academic insights with community needs and seamlessly connect the university with the corporate sector, thereby unlocking tangible, high-impact cooperative ventures between Vietnam and South Korea.