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Catherine's eyes: INSPIRING ITAEWON; 2012.10.21 11:27 涝仿

INSPIRING ITAEWON
 
Itaewon district seems to be a laboratory for the globalization of Korea. Though the origins of this multicultural district are not very clear, there are all related to foreigners. In the 70s, Itaewon has been catering and entertaining the neighboring US Army Base and since the 1988 Olympics, it has gained popularity among tourists and expatriates. In 1997, Itaewon was designated as a Special Tourist Zone, meaning a multicultural spot where cultural shock and homesickness are unlikely. Nowadays, there are apparently more foreigners than Koreans in Itaewon: oversized Westerners, Africans and Indians, Muslims and Christians, shoppers and a few shop owners, diners and drinkers, diplomats and teachers, etc. Unfortunately or not, Itaewon is like an amusement park: the outside world may be shockingly different. 
 
A few subway stations away, the Seoul atmosphere is anything but multicultural. Personally, I really do not mind since I can always make a trip to Itaewon whenever I feel too overwhelmed by the Korean wave. On the other hand, 2010 may confirm the legitimacy of Korea as a global leader and a foreigner-friendly destination. It will position the country as a major player on the international scene, able to contribute to international development and peace. 
 
In January 2010, the Republic of Korea officially became the first former aid recipient to join the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). With only 0.09 of its GNI dedicated to Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2008, Korea falls behind by DAC standards (0.2 per cent). However, Korea has increased its ODA a great deal over the last years and has promised to reach 0.25 percent of its GNI by 2015. 
 
In 1970, Korean President Park Chung-hee officially launched the Saemaul Undong in his birthplace, the province of Gyeongsanbuk-do, For him, this initiative was the last chance for Koreans to escape absolute poverty. At that time, Korea was a devastated country that relied heavily on the financial and technical support from the international community, including developing countries. It was a devastated nation with very few resources but human resources. That reality makes it all the more remarkable that in 2007 Korea’s GDP per capita reached 20,000 US$ making the country 13th largest economy in the world. 
One of the unique features of the Saemaul Undong movement was that it consisted of executing local development projects, designed and implemented by the communities themselves. This bottom-up approach was one of the key factors of success of the movement as it is now for any sustainable development project. The three core values of the Saemaul are Diligence (involve yourself), Self Help (control your fate) and Cooperation (share your energy). 
 
The Saemaul Undong tells a story of national success built from grassroots. It can be a practical model for developing or least developed countries to emulate and an added-value for Korean ODA. Koreans can therefore share a new model for Development Assistance in the 21st Century, being a nation that not only donates money but also dignity. A country that clearly says: ‘yes, you can do it’. 
 
In July 2008, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited his home country and made a speech at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, entitled "Great Challenges Require Great Nations". I was quite moved to hear him say : “Personally, I am ashamed that Korea ranks last, dead last, among the OECD countries in providing Official Development Assistance. This is not befitting a great country. We must do more, much more, commensurate with our national economic power. And now, as the first Korean Secretary-General of the United Nations leads the global effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, now is the perfect time for Korea to make its move. Work with me. The world looks to Korea to step up to this challenge.”
 
Dynamic Korea, Sparkling Korea, Amazing Korea, Inspiring Korea, ˇ Korea is a wonderland that will never stop to startle us ˇ in a positive way.