Saemaul Undong Revisited: A Case of State–Society Dynamics in Social Capital Mobilisation, Focusing on the Role of Local Leaders in South Korea of the 1970s

This study aims at a re‐interpretation of the Saemaul Undong of the 1970s in South Korea. The study departs from the usual understanding of the ‘Korean miracle’ led by a strong state leadership, but emphasises the role of society, here represented by Saemaul Leaders as middle agents of change, and their roles of ‘bonding’ and ‘linking’ social capital, within and beyond communities. From this, communities are no longer simply recipients of, or followers to, the central leadership, but they turn out to be active participants and, in fact, leaders of rural community development.