Institutionalizing Saemaul Studies: The Role of Professor Choi Oe-chool and the Kuhnian Framework
0
조회
0
다운로드
0
인용
0
참고문헌
키워드
초록
The Saemaul Undong, launched in the 1970s under the leadership of President Park Chung Hee, was a transformative community development policy that played a key role in Korea’s rapid industrialization and poverty alleviation. This essay examines the pioneering academic work of Professor Choi Oe-chool, who led the effort to establish Saemaul Studies as a distinct academic discipline rooted in the experiences and philosophy of the Saemaul Undong. Rather than remaining a mere case study, Saemaul Studies has developed into a comprehensive knowledge system supported by institutional structures such as academic associations, graduate programs, research journals, and international partnerships. The analysis draws on the philosophy of science developed by Thomas Kuhn, particularly his concept of normal science, which requires a shared scholarly community, structured educational programs, and formalized institutional infrastructure. The essay argues that Saemaul Studies has steadily progressed toward meeting these criteria. It embodies a paradigm shift in development thinking by placing community spirit, self-reliance, and ethical development at its core—principles later expanded into the more inclusive framework of “Saemaul Spirit 2.0,” which incorporates sharing, service, and creativity. This shift signifies a move from material-centered development to a more human-centered and culturally adaptive approach. Beyond theory, Saemaul Studies is being disseminated and applied across multiple developing countries through joint educational programs, training centers, and collaborative projects. These practices underscore the global relevance of the field and its potential as a transdisciplinary framework that bridges local experiences with global development challenges. Ultimately, Saemaul Studies emerges as a mediating discipline—connecting practice and theory, locality and universality, tradition and innovation—and continues to evolve as a knowledge asset for addressing global poverty and promoting sustainable human development.
Abstract
The Saemaul Undong, launched in the 1970s under the leadership of President Park Chung Hee, was a transformative community development policy that played a key role in Korea’s rapid industrialization and poverty alleviation. This essay examines the pioneering academic work of Professor Choi Oe-chool, who led the effort to establish Saemaul Studies as a distinct academic discipline rooted in the experiences and philosophy of the Saemaul Undong. Rather than remaining a mere case study, Saemaul Studies has developed into a comprehensive knowledge system supported by institutional structures such as academic associations, graduate programs, research journals, and international partnerships. The analysis draws on the philosophy of science developed by Thomas Kuhn, particularly his concept of normal science, which requires a shared scholarly community, structured educational programs, and formalized institutional infrastructure. The essay argues that Saemaul Studies has steadily progressed toward meeting these criteria. It embodies a paradigm shift in development thinking by placing community spirit, self-reliance, and ethical development at its core—principles later expanded into the more inclusive framework of “Saemaul Spirit 2.0,” which incorporates sharing, service, and creativity. This shift signifies a move from material-centered development to a more human-centered and culturally adaptive approach. Beyond theory, Saemaul Studies is being disseminated and applied across multiple developing countries through joint educational programs, training centers, and collaborative projects. These practices underscore the global relevance of the field and its potential as a transdisciplinary framework that bridges local experiences with global development challenges. Ultimately, Saemaul Studies emerges as a mediating discipline—connecting practice and theory, locality and universality, tradition and innovation—and continues to evolve as a knowledge asset for addressing global poverty and promoting sustainable human development.