{
  "id": 4960654,
  "title": "Korea Selatan menghidupkan ‘Sejahtera’, apa Malaysia boleh pelajari?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/korea-selatan-menghidupkan-sejahtera-apa-malaysia-boleh-pelajari",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/pandangan/2026/09/02/korea-selatan-menghidupkan-sejahtera-apa-malaysia-boleh-pelajari"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sejahtera, a Malaysian concept, has deep roots in history and the societal mindset of Malaysians. It is not a new term, but rather a fundamental idea or political slogan. Ironically, we possess our language, yet others take the idea of Sejahtera more seriously and work towards building its essence. In South Korea, Sejahtera is not merely borrowed as a term; it has become an institution, education, and community life through Tongyeong RCE Sejahtera Forest (세자트라숲), a nearly 75,000 square meter eco-region. Sejahtera is given space, funds, curriculum, teachers, and continuity. While we often talk and write about Sejahtera, they choose to build and live it. The history is similar, but the journey is different. We often forget how close Malaysia and South Korea once were. In the 1960s, the economic standing of both nations was not too far apart, with Malaysia having one of the relatively strong economies in Southeast Asia. Today, South Korea is among the world's advanced economies. The key to this success is not solely industrialization, education, technology, productivity, or national foundations, but rather the careful balance between physical advancement and social, ethical, and environmental values. What struck me during my stay in South Korea was the willingness to retain local values and community ethics while pursuing progress. Korea understands that physical advancement without social balance, values, and the environment will ultimately lead to debts that future generations must pay. Malaysia faces a paradox: we are adept at importing various development frameworks from abroad, but we are often uncertain about instituting the philosophy that grows from our history and experiences. Sejahtera is an excellent example. When Sejahtera is given a home in Tongyeong RCE Forest, recognized by the United Nations University as the eighth RCE worldwide in 2005, it shows that Sejahtera doesn't have to remain an abstract concept. Korea doesn't just mention Sejahtera; they give it a home. Perhaps this concept is rooted in the Korean culture's love for 'deobureo' (더불어), which means living together and coexistence - human and nature. Two words from two linguistic branches, but they carry almost the same soul. The Sejahtera Forest complex was built through public investment exceeding RM66 million, involving central, provincial, and Tongyeong city governments. Its construction became part of the education. The 'Passive House' concept, natural ventilation, and rainwater reuse make the art of living a lesson in human-nature relationships. However, what is more important is not the building itself, but the people shaped by it. Through the 'One school, one ESD teacher' approach, there are 64 skilled teachers in 61 schools. Almost every school has a teacher ensuring sustainable development education (ESD) doesn't stay a concept on paper. Every year, around 5,000 third-grade students visit this forest. They don't just memorize sustainability, but see, touch, and experience it. Education is also community-based and focused on real-world problems. Students learn through local issues, such as water, ecology, community life, and regional challenges. They learn from the people's problems and return to the people to help solve them. The Tongyeong city government allocates around RM6 million annually to ensure this educational ecosystem continues to thrive. The difference between having a slogan and building an institution is clear: we mention Sejahtera, they live it. In Malaysia, we may not lack the words 'Sejahtera'. Its spirit has long been embedded in the National Education Philosophy, appearing in various frameworks, policies, and development plans. However, the gap between talking about Sejahtera and living it remains. When an idea is mentioned too often without real change, its meaning can become diluted. It remains on the billboard, in speeches, and seminar titles, but loses its soul. Universities are not immune either. We are so proud of rankings, reach, publications, and various accolades that we often forget the most basic question of education: what kind of humans do we want to raise? If Sejahtera is truly part of our educational philosophy, students should not just recognize the term; they should experience how balance, humanity, social responsibility, and nature relationship are translated into their respective fields. Three lessons from Tongyeong can be learned by Malaysia. First, institutionalize philosophy, not just embed it. Sejahtera needs structure, funding, and continuity to survive across government changes and leadership shifts. Second, Sejahtera must be experienced, not just memorized. Education about sustainability and conservation must move from textbooks to real-life experiences with society and nature. Third, people must feel its benefits. In Tongyeong, education, ecology, tourism, and community activities intersect. Sejahtera becomes the source of education, identity, pride, and community economy, not just a seminar topic. Learning to appreciate one's own wealth, as Sangha Sejahtera in Tongyeong, demonstrates.",
  "summary": "Korea Selatan menunjukkan Sejahtera boleh menjadi sebahagian kehidupan masyarakat apabila disokong institusi, pendidikan dan peruntukan yang berterusan.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Korea Selatan menghidupkan ‘Sejahtera’, apa Malaysia boleh pelajari?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/korea-selatan-menghidupkan-sejahtera-apa-malaysia-boleh-pelajari-4961068",
        "published": "2026-09-01T23:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}