In the wake of war, division, and rapid industrialization, South Korea’s countryside faced a crisis. By the late 1960s, rural poverty was deepening, farmers were abandoning their fields for the cities, and the gap between urban and rural life had never been wider. But then, a dramatic shift began.
Join John and Patrick as they explore the origins and impact of the Saemaul Undong Movement - the sweeping rural development program launched by President Park Chung-Hee in the 1970s. But to understand why this movement was necessary, they first take a journey through Korea’s long and complex agricultural history, from dynastic land ownership and Japanese colonial rule to postwar land reforms and the struggle for modernization.
How did centuries of social hierarchy shape Korea’s farmland? Why did colonial policies leave so many farmers dispossessed? And what led Park’s government to turn its focus back to the countryside? Tune in for a deep dive into one of the most ambitious agricultural revolutions of the 20th century.
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