Manpower and Education Attache of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Indonesia, Dr. Kim Young Mee, emphasized that South Korea keeps strengthening the cooperation with Indonesia in realizing the prosperity of society. One of the ways this is achieved is through community empowerment, particularly in rural areas of Indonesia.
“South Korea and Indonesia share many similarities. We have similar history and character as well as a promising future,” said Kim Young Mee during a seminar entitled Exploring Strategies for Social Empowerment Cooperation Between Korea and Indonesia at the end of March 2017 at the Faculty of Philosophy, UGM.
Kim Young Mee said the Republic of Korea Embassy in Indonesia will keep strengthening the cooperation in order that Korea and Indonesia can have a more prosperous future. The cooperation will be emphasiz science, research, social matters, and culture.
“I believe Korea and Indonesia can develop together, move forward, and enjoy propserity in the future by holding on mutual understanding and mutual trust values,” he added.
Meanwhile, President of International Association for Korean Studies in Indonesia (INAKOS), Dr. M. Mukhtasar Syamsuddin, said we need to arrange the right strategy for carrying out social empowerment which is expected to strengthen the cooperation between Indonesia and Korea on social matters, education, culture, and technology.
“It is essential for the right strategy to be formulated in order to realize an effective implementation program of social empowerment,” said Mukhtasar.
He went on to say the strategy is supposed to be based on the principle of mutual cooperation such as Saemaul Undong action in South Korea and the values of Tri Sakti in Indonesia to realize political, economical, and cultural sovereignty.
“We hope we can empower village communities and improve their welfare through this cooperation,” he added.
The cooperation between Korea and Indonesia on social empowerment as an initial implementation of Saemaul Undong had been carried out in several villages in Gunung Kidul, Kulon Progo, and Bantul regencies in Yogyakarta, for example the cooperation between Yogyakarta Province and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province in South Korea in 2008.
Then, in 2015, by collaborating with the Tri Sakti Study Centre UGM, the social empowerment program was expanded in those three regencies. Until now, the program has not only succeeded in enhancing the work ethic and mutual cooperation within the village communities, but has also increased their income.