From 17 – 19 September 2025, the historic city of Gyeongju played host to the 2nd Global Saemaul Ministerial Meeting and related events at the Lahan Select Hotel. Bringing together around 500 participants from 46 countries, the gathering featured ministers, vice-ministers, Saemaul Global League members, foreign ambassadors in Korea, ODA bodies, international experts, and university students. Malaysia was represented by the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Malaysia in Seoul.
The programme began on 17 September with the Global Saemaul Leadership Forum, setting the tone for an engaging exchange of ideas. Later that afternoon, the Ministerial Meeting of Global Saemaul Cooperation Countries convened, where all participating nations, including Malaysia, shared insights on pilot village models, regional development, and current national policies driving rural transformation.
On 18 September, discussions continued with a seminar on best practices and case studies across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The afternoon featured a high-level joint seminar with UNDESA and UNPOG, exploring how the Saemaul spirit can contribute to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening local governance worldwide.
From Gyeongju’s historical backdrop, the meeting reaffirmed the enduring relevance of Saemaul Undong as a bridge between past wisdom and future development. Malaysia was proud to highlight its own journey, particularly the Rural Development Policy 2030 and the newly approved 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13), which charts its development path for the next five years, while also drawing inspiration from the experiences of fellow countries.
