GEOGRAPHY: This island, the southernmost province of the Republic of Korea, is located at the point where the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan converge.
CHALLENGES: The Jeju-do Human Development Consultation is the initiating step of a comprehensive community development demonstration by the people of Jeju-do. The human development plan is comprehensive in that it involves both the social development and the economic development of the island’s people. The focus was on activating the local economy, intensifying community stability, and reshaping the local environment. Hence, they set up a consultation on the future of local social units of Jeju-do which brought together a group of business and professional people from various outside arenas and local citizens for a week of practical planning.
HISTORY: Although relatively isolated from the mainland, Jeju-do has been influenced by powerful social currents from China, Mongolia, Japan and the West. Throughout these times, the people of Jeju-do have maintained the integrity of the Korean character and have developed their own unique stylistic traits and human qualities as well. Jeju-do stood at the beginning of a massive tourism industry. Commercial services, vacation facilities and points of interest were being developed rapidly, and village beautification programs and local development efforts were underway all across the island.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
A Village Treasury was established with $12,000 on deposit, over $54,000 worth of property and 254 loans made to villagers. 85% of the families participated in the treasury.
The average yearly income per family more than quadrupled in the past five years. In 1974 the average yearly income per family was $882 and in 1979 it had increased to $4165.
Eight public facilities were built between 1974 and 1977 including 60 new houses and 167 new roofs. Another major physical change was the creation of a village plaza.
Kwangyung Il hosted 23 other Human Development Projects at the Global Social Demonstration World’s Fair. This event celebrated the completion of the initiation of the band of 24 projects circling the globe.
A full-day preschool was initiated for ages 3-5. It is self-supporting, staffed by the village, and located in the new preschool building.
856 people participated in training, locally, nationally, and internationally.
A community bath house was built in 1977. It is open 3 days a week and operated by the Women’s Association.
137 of the home toilets have been altered from pig to cement toilets.
“An experience I will never forget was the World’s Fair held in Kwangyung Il in 1977. Our staff had to enable the building of five major buildings (grain mill, chicken house, etc.) within two months! We worked along with the villagers to carry wet sand up a steep incline from the river and heavy stones and cement to build the foundations. We kept saying, “The chickens are coming!” to keep the momentum going.
It really was a miracle to be ready as people arrived and flags from each nation were flying in the plaza. With a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes I greeted my colleagues who were giving their lives in human development projects around the world. At the end of the Fair, the Korean government hosted 75 people on a three-day trip to visit historical and industrial sites in Korea.” Judith Hamje
