“From watching villagers maintaining Ashar in the traditional way while implementing Saemaul Undong, I saw a big potential in Kyrgyzstan. We will give our full support to Kyrgyzstan SMU Center so they could combine Ashar and Saemaul spirit for their model projects.”

- So Jin Kwang, the President of Korea SMU Center during an interview with ELTR, a public TV channel in Kyrgyzstan on 28 June.

President So of Korea SMU Center signed an MOU with Asuan Zhakypov, the president of Kyrgyzstan SMU Center, on 28 June, 2016.

“I appreciate the efforts of SMU trainees from the Class of 2010 who built the Kyrgyzstan SMU Center on their own and actively campaigned for the Saemaul Undong in Kyrgyzstan. I am looking forward to seeing Saemaul Undong practiced by villagers voluntary participation and initiatives, in harmony with government support,” the president of Korea SMU Center remarked.

In the morning President So met with fifty villagers in Kolmo, an SMU model village. Attending this meeting were the village elders and Mr. Kaliev Kanybek, the village headman.

In the afternoon, Mr. So had interviews with two public broadcasters, ELTR and Piramida. He shared his views on the role of SMU model villages and SMU Center, government’s support and its policy, Saemaul leaders training and the importance of voluntary participation of the villagers.

During his tour of Kyrgyzstan that wll end on 2 July, he will have a meeting with the Prime Minister Zheenbekov Sooronbai Sharipovich on 29 June. The meeting will cover the governmental support of Kyrgyzstan’s Saemaul Undong and its role in replicating Saemaul Undong in the country. Then Mr. So will deliver a special lecture to an audience of government high-ups and Korean ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Jung Byeong-hoo.

On 30 June, the president of Korea SMU Center will meet with Mr. Kinlay Dorjee, UN FAO representative in the Kyrgyzstan. He will also visit FAO- managed model villages, Issyk-kul and Chong Sary-oi villages. On 1 July, he plans to discuss with Ashat Akibaev, the governor of Issyk-kul district, before he returns to Korea the next day.