Policy Updates

On May 9, 2024, KOICA signed a MoU with the IFRC to support conflict-affected and fragile states, the most recent of a series of memoranda in 2024.

KOICA has signed MoUs with eight international organizations to implement new programs to support conflict-affected and fragile states in 2024, including with the IFRC. On February 28, 2024, KOICA and the IOM signed an MoU, followed by memoranda with UNFPA, UNHCR, and the WFP though May 9, 2024. KOICA is slated to sign three more memoranda with UNDP, ICRC, and UNICEF by May 17, 2024.

KOICA’s budget for conflict-affected and fragile states increased from KRW33.5 billion in 2023 to KRW123.3 billion in 2024. KOICA is slated to implement eight new programs to support more than 20 conflict-affected and fragile states, with a total of KRW243.6 billion over three years. The new program is designed to respond more effectively to transnational crises by providing long-term, 10-year support for regional projects. KOICA will also undertake the South Korean government’s strategy to implement the HDP nexus through the new programs.

On May 9, 2024, South Korea’s MOFA hosted the Grant Assistance Institutions Council 2024 to discuss 2025's grant projects, which total a reported KRW4.16 trillion (US$3.2 billion), an 21.4% increase compared to 2023.

30 relevant grant agencies, including government ministries, KOICA, and other grant implementing agencies, attended the Council.

The increase reflected South Korea’s stated willingness to expand contributions to the international community. Based on the discussion, the MOFA noted that it will develop a comprehensive implementation plan for 2025 grant assistance.

In 2024’s project review process, 74 private experts from 14 fields, diplomatic offices, and relevant departments within the MOFA were consulted to reflect the views of the business and private sector as well as strengthen the link between foreign policy and international development cooperation strategies.

On May 8, 2024, South Korean 2^nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Insun Kang presided over the 4^th Policy Dialogue between the MOFA and nine CSOs to discuss ways to work with civil society in development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

The policy dialogue was attended by representatives from nine CSOs, namely Food for Hungry, Good People International, Go & Do International, Good Neighbors International, Save the Children Korea, Serving Friends, World Vision, Child Fund Korea, and Heart-to-Heart Foundation International. Also in attendance were KOICA and KCOC. Kang emphasized the importance of civil society’s role in financing development cooperation and implementing programs that reflect the realities of the field. She also highlighted the need for multifaceted efforts to resolve global issues and achieve the UN SDGs in the context of complex crises, including various geopolitical conflicts as well as food and energy crises.

Kang noted that KOICA will communicate with civil society to create a healthy ecosystem for public-private partnerships. Representatives from the CSOs suggested ways to strengthen public-private partnerships with the help of grant aid. They also called for further partnerships by presenting the results of 2023’s humanitarian assistance program and direction for 2024.

On April 15 and 16, 2024, South Korea announced its plan to provide humanitarian assistance of US$12 million to Sudan and US$7 million to Ethiopia with in-kind rice at the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighboring Countries and High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Situation in Ethiopia, respectively.

South Korea aims to help Sudan and neighboring countries to overcome the humanitarian crisis spurred by the armed conflict in the region.

The humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia, combined with 13,852 tons of rice in-kind, is aimed to help alleviate food shortages. In particular, South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has been providing rice to countries in food crises every year through the WFP since its entry into the Food Assistance Convention in 2018.

On April 11, 2024, statistics released by the OECD DAC showed that that South Korea provided US$3.1 billion in 2023 ODA, an 11.4% increase compared to 2022.

South Korea's ODA disbursement in 2023 indicated an increase both in bilateral assistance (US$2.3 billion) and multilateral assistance (US$830 million). In particular, contributions to international financial organizations, including the World Bank and IMF, increased. Bilateral assistance increased by 3.4% due to increases in grant assistance (US$1.6 billion) and loans (US$700 million). Multilateral assistance increased by 41.9% due to an increase in contributions to support the pandemic in low-income and vulnerable countries. With the increased multilateral contribution, the South Korean government responded quickly and effectively to the global shortage of development finances and expressed its willingness to contribute to resolving global issues as a global pivotal state.

ODA/GNI was 0.18%, an increase of 0.01% from 2022. As South Korea has expanded the 2024 ODA budget by the largest amount ever (31.1%) to fulfill its role as a global pivotal state amid a tight fiscal environment, 2024’s ODA disbursement is expected to increase significantly.

On April 12, 2024, it was announced that South Korea was elected to the Executive Boards of UNICEF and the WFP for the 2025-2027 term.

The WFP Executive Board provides policy guidance and oversees all activities as the highest decision-making body. South Korea’s third consecutive election to the WFP Executive Board since 2019 reflects its role and contribution to reducing poverty and ending hunger around the world.

South Korea's election to the Executive Board of UNICEF for 2025-2027 marked its tenth consecutive nomination since 1988. The South Korean government will continue to proactively participate in discussions within UNICEF to advance the protection, health, and education of children and adolescents around the world. The government is also slated to further develop the partnership between South Korea and UNICEF.

From March 18-19, 2024, Commissioner Jee Youngmee of the KDCA met with WHO WPRO, the Asian Development Bank, and the Ministry of Health in the Philippines.

The KDCA and WPRO agreed to establish an annual high-level policy dialogue between the two to discuss issues related to disease control and climate health more closely and actively. Following this, the agencies agreed to transition the established Donor Meeting, which has been held at the director level, to a high-level meeting.

The KDCA has made contributions of US$1.6 million (KRW2.5 billion) for infectious disease control since 2009, as well as contributions of US$174,000 (KRW225 million) since 2012 to WHO WPRO. Jee announced that South Korea will host a high-level roundtable on climate change and health at the World Health City Forum in this November, inviting experts at WHO WPRO.

The KDCA will continue to lead in the field of health security through the World Health Assembly in May and bilateral meetings with many countries.

On March 14, 2024, South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Tae-yul delivered a keynote speech at the 6^th Global Engagement and Empowerment Forum under the theme of Reboot the SDGs, Reset the Our Future to discuss how the international community can work together to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs amidst the deepening global crisis.

In his keynote speech, Cho called for strengthening multilateralism centering around the UN to boost the achievement of the SDGs. South Korea will build on the momentum from the Summit of the Future in September 2023 and revitalize international discussions on the implementation of the SDGs in special situation countries, including SIDS and landlocked countries.

He also highlighted the HDP Nexus, the digital transformation of low- and middle-income countries, and empowering future generations. His participation in the forum demonstrated South Korea’s commitment to achieving the SDGs to the international community.

On March 6, 2024, Minister Cho Tae-yul of Foreign Affairs met Executive Director Natalia Kanem of UNFPA during her visit to South Korea to discuss Korea-UNFPA cooperation.

Cho reviewed the development of cooperation between Korea and UNFPA, including the first policy council held on February 15, 2024. He also highlighted growing cooperation with UNFPA in areas such as humanitarian-development-peace nexus and Women, Peace, and Security in light of its non-permanent seat on the Security Council in 2024-25.

Kanem remarked on Korea’s support in preventing and responding to GBV and strengthening SRH in conflict-affected countries, and pledged to support Korea to continue its successful Security Council membership.

Cho and Kanem also agreed that cooperation should lead to tangible results, and alluded to plans to expand the presence of UNFPA in South Korea.

On March 5, 2024, South Korea and Australia renewed their MOU on development cooperation since its first signing in 2019.

The renewed MOU outlined an institutional framework for cooperation on new bilateral development cooperation policies, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and sectors (gender equality, climate change, humanitarian assistance, etc.), and strengthening of cooperation mechanisms. In particular, the document set out guidelines for Director General level-biennial meetings of Development Cooperation Policy Council.

The updated agreement is expected to further strengthen cooperation between South Korea and Australia to contribute to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region.