This study examines the development and international relations of the Korean peasant movement since the 1960s with the case of Maria Seiler, a German woman who visited Korea in 1965 and returned to Germany in 1994. Maria came to Korea in the mid-1960...
This study examines the development and international relations of the Korean peasant movement since the 1960s with the case of Maria Seiler, a German woman who visited Korea in 1965 and returned to Germany in 1994. Maria came to Korea in the mid-1960s because of the development of the West German student movement, exchanges with Third World students in Munich, and West German Catholics' interest in the 'the Third World'.
Her decisive visit to Korea was a meeting with a Korean miner dispatched to Germany.
Since 1968, Maria has been active in the 'Korea Catholic Rural Youth Association' and has begun to build an international network. Her global network of connections came when she joined in 1971 as a MIJARC member of the International Catholic Rural Youth Association. The formation of a practical relationship with the 'International Catholic Rural Youth Association' began when Maria was entirely in charge of international cooperation. Following the direction of the 'International Catholic Farmers' Movement', the 'Korean Catholic Farmers Movement(KCFM)' also developed with an emphasis on human development and social development.
After the KCFM became a MIJARC member, the international Catholic network expanded. There were International solidarities with Christian organizations such as West Germany, the Netherlands, APHD in Australia and Canada, British Christian Aid, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Development assistance in Korea was provided by West Germany, the Netherlands, APHD, and Christian Aid. West German Catholics provided most of the budget for the KCFM. Support from West Germany was handled by 'the Archdiocese of Paderborn' (KLJB) and 'Misereor' in the eastern part of West Germany. Next, it was an alliance with the Dutch CEBEMO. APHD began providing financial support in 1977. The KCFM sent detailed materials about the Korean countryside to it, and its members developed the Korean Farmers Movement by attending APHD seminars, field experiences, and events of member organizations. The last international organization to mention was 'British Christian Aid'. In 1978, the organization sent funds to Korea for local development projects of the Korean Catholic Farmers' Movement through MIJARC, mainly related to women's resource development.
With these aids, Maria played an important role in laying the groundwork for the Korean Women's Farmers' Movement as well as establishing an international network of the Korean Catholic Farmers' Movement.