HOME > What’s Saemaul Undong > Saemaul Undong in Korea > Three Guiding Spirits of Saemaul Undong
Diligence: Assiduity and hard work should be an essential part of our lives
 
Diligence entails the realization of efforts to make the most of what is available. Diligence leads to sincerity, a value that does not allow for falseness, hypocrisy, vanity, or indulgence of luxury. A society whose members sincerely work hard is enabled to develop a sound community propped up by trust and social justice, and without corruption or irregularities.
Self-help: We should not depend on others nor shift our responsibilities
 
The will to independently define one’s fate based on personal efforts is manifested in the spirit of self-help, figuratively illustrated in the time-honored proverb “Heaven helps those who help themselves.” The first step towards self-help is to understand oneself and one’s place in the society, live up to one’s role, and fulfill one’s responsibilities. Such self-understanding means that one neither depends upon others nor transfers one’s responsibilities to others, and instead, tackles any adversities on one’s own, taking full responsibility for decisions.
Cooperation: We should strive to attain any established goals through collective efforts
 
Cooperation is necessary to maximize the results of diligence and self-help, and to maximize the social validity of such efforts. Genuine cooperation, or pursuit of community growth based on mutual trust, results only when the members of a society share a common sense of destiny. The successful realization of cooperation not only gives rise to tradition of mutual help but also assists individual members of the society to improve their lives by promoting competition and the desire to participate.