Village Hero 1978

The epic of our grandfathers' and grandmothers' blood, sweat, and tears
This book, “Our Village Heroes,” is a compilation of village success stories from the “Saemaul Movement: From the Beginning to the Present,” a New Village White Paper compiled by the Ministry of the Interior since 1973. This white paper chronicles the heartbreaking journeys of countless people who overcame 5,000 years of entrenched poverty. The Saemaul Movement spearheaded these efforts. Villagers of all ages and genders participated in the movement. And there were village leaders who led by example. Even after giving up due to failure and frustration, they bounced back like tumbling dolls and ultimately succeeded. They overcame poverty and created a prosperous village.
One historian once diagnosed that one of the reasons for starting a war was the lack of food for children who whined about hunger. The Saemaul Movement was a war. It was a war fought against poverty to free us from hunger. We achieved victory in that war.
Even after giving up due to failure and frustration, they got back up like tumbling dolls and eventually succeeded. They threw off poverty and created a prosperous village. Most successful people leave their poor villages and hometowns to pursue careers in education, business, sports, and entertainment, and are praised as heroes. They achieved personal or family glory. However, village heroes are true heroes who did not leave their villages or hometowns, or gave up good jobs to return to their villages and settle down, enduring the pain of bloody and tearful suffering with their whole bodies to create a prosperous village where everyone can live with dignity.
Throughout the country, you will find the histories of local heroes and village heroes who died protecting their villages and regions. For example, along National Route 25, which passes through Hwaryeongjae on the Baekdudaegan Trail, stands a monument to the local heroes and village heroes who died heroically defending the nation. It was these common people who protected this nation. The Saemaul leaders are the very village and regional heroes who fought and triumphed over the enemy of poverty.