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RETHINKING DEVELOPMENT: LESSONS LEARNED FROM SOUTH KOREA - STUDY AND CONNECTION TRIP TO SOUTH KOREA [PART 1]
- VCIL Community
- Jul 1, 2023
- 5 min read
Where the story began
From June 9 to June 25, 2023, two representatives from Vcil Community were present in South Korea to attend a study program and meet potential partners. During these nearly 17 days, we traveled through more than 7 provinces/cities and interacted with over 17 individuals/organizations. There were days when we woke up at 4 AM and went to bed at midnight. Despite this, there wasn't a single day when we weren't excited and thrilled by the new experiences and profound lessons from the people there. As we boarded the bus to Incheon International Airport, we knew that a new milestone had been set in VCIL Community's journey of expanding its collaborative network in Asia.
In 1989, the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) was established in Siam (Thailand) by Sulak Sivaraksa and a group of social activists, including both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. The philosophy and practice of INEB are based on compassion, social justice, non-violence, and interdependence as taught by Buddha Gautama.
Our main study program was organized over 7 days by Jungto Society—a volunteer-operated organization of people practicing Buddhism through social engagement and minimalist living. It was founded in 1988 by Zen master Pomnyun Sunim (법륜스님)—a renowned writer, Buddhist leader, and influential social activist in South Korea. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Jungto Society annually organized a study trip to learn about their activities in South Korea for partners from INEB (International Network of Engaged Buddhism). Fortunately, this year's program was trialed for a few young social workers. We felt incredibly grateful and honored to be given two slots by Jungto Society and INEB, while the majority of the group comprised esteemed monks and nuns.
During the 7 days of the program, the group deeply engaged with the practice methods of Jungto Society and the social activities of Master Pomnyun Sunim. Jungto members do not refer to themselves as "disciples" but as "practicing community members" (or practitioners). Jungto follows a simple, practical, and authentic Buddhist doctrine. Besides daily scripture reading and bowing meditation, Jungto's practice methods also include donating and volunteering in social work to help others and make the world a better place. Jungto Society operates numerous projects to protect the environment, enhance individual happiness, and promote world peace.
We listened to Master Sunim share about the structure and operational principles of the organization, deep meditation stories, and his initiatives in addressing complex issues facing South Korean society. Additionally, we visited Master Sunim's main temple, a Buddhist institute for nuns, and a hospital established by the nuns. Before concluding the program, we heard the concerns of migrant workers, journalistic activities related to Korean Buddhism, and heartfelt stories from long-term volunteers at Jungto Society. Perhaps we learned the most from Master Pomnyun Sunim, from his communication style, macro thinking, and analysis to his smallest actions.
When we truly focused and took the time to study, we were amazed by the differences and creativity in his works. Jungto Society's democratic governance model is inspired by the operational method of the sangha during the Buddha's time. Moreover, resource mobilization and creating social impact were topics we continuously discussed and pondered even after returning to Vietnam.
Before and After This Study Program
Before and after this study program, we actively contacted and met with many partners working in alternative education, sustainable development, and solidarity economy. We visited and talked with teachers and students at three alternative schools. These schools were established to address the prominent issues in South Korea's mainstream education system, such as fierce competition, lack of relevance to daily life, and failure to keep up with the changing times.
Most of the educational philosophies of these schools focus on the comprehensive development of individuals; training the ability to live independently, harmoniously in the community, and with high environmental consciousness. Interestingly, all three schools were built in rural areas far from Seoul and are deeply rooted in the local community. For instance, Gandhi School in Jecheon County organizes learning activities for locals at a common library, Samil Haklim creates a lifelong learning ecosystem for those "leaving the city for the countryside," and students at Gandhi School in Geumsan stay part-time in the homes of local villagers.
A product handmade by the students at Gandhi School, an alternative education school in Geumsan County.
We also had lunch with a "brother" running an alternative university program aimed at promoting social entrepreneurship and engagement. This team originated from the famous Mondragon cooperative in Spain. These educational organizations also expressed a willingness to cooperate long-term with VCIL Community and The Soil Project.
We also had lunch with a "brother" running an alternative university program aimed at promoting social entrepreneurship and engagement. This team originated from the famous Mondragon cooperative in Spain. These educational organizations also expressed a willingness to cooperate long-term with VCIL Community and The Soil Project.
Another project that we were very impressed and fascinated by was the Neutinamu Community Library. This library is neither private nor government-owned. It was built by the voluntary contributions of local residents. The library was founded and is operated by the people living in the area to address rampant social issues in 1997. Now, this project has an even greater and more ambitious vision—to rethink and create a paradigm shift in the concept of a library.
One of the innovations here is the classification of books. Instead of categorizing books into typical academic categories, this library continuously interacts with local residents to understand their needs. From there, staff curate necessary materials such as books, DVDs, journals, etc., and compile them into categories that address the pressing concerns of the local community. This is a prime example of "The Commons" according to David Bollier:
"Resources collectively managed by a community of users based on rules and norms set by the community."
This trip truly provided us with many valuable perspectives on the land of kimchi. The theoretical framework of Professor Mark Whitaker gave us an overall picture of South Korea's miraculous development process and what made this country's success. Master Sunim's profound analyses helped us understand the division process of North and South Korea and the socioeconomic issues that Jungto Society is trying to address.
Interacting with these organizations and people often makes one question the definitions of wealth and financial security. To counterbalance a capitalist society dominated by market economy principles, the cooperative movement and solidarity economy have been promoted and developed very strongly. We were surprised when we met iCOOP—a consumer cooperative established in 1997 with 99 stores and a profit margin of over 6 trillion won last year.
We also witnessed many contrasting aspects of South Korean society: a country comprehensively dominated by large corporations—the grassroots social movement originating from the base level, strong urbanization and industrialization—aided rural development and traditional cultural preservation projects supported by the government, low birth rates—high suicide rates, increasing unemployment and competitive job market—a shortage of manual labor, especially in agriculture,... The 17 days passed quickly and were filled with so much information that it felt like we had lived there for months.
Gradually, this land gave us a feeling of "home." A place with kindred spirits working tirelessly for society, elders always encouraging us, and mentors guiding us. To us, South Korea is a place full of support, love, and appreciation. Almost everywhere we went, we received generosity, kindness, and warm hospitality from the Koreans.
Through these experiences, we highly admire and respect the valuable qualities of this nation, such as solidarity, mutual trust, and unanimity; a testament to this is the country's rapid transformation from an underdeveloped nation in the 1950s to becoming one of the world's largest economies.
We are extremely grateful and appreciative of INEB and Jungto Society for supporting and facilitating such a successful and wonderful trip for VCIL Community.
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