Policy Updates

On July 25, 2025, the UNOPS announced the delivery of critical equipment to Ukraine, part of a US$10 million project funded by the Republic of Korea's development agency, KOICA, to bolster emergency response in frontline communities.

The project aims to restore public services in high-risk areas of northeastern Ukraine's Sumy region, which have been heavily affected by the ongoing conflict. As of the announcement, deliveries included 49 of 60 buses and 43 of 100 power generators.

The buses are intended to facilitate civilian evacuations and restore access to essential services such as education and healthcare. The power generators were delivered to the SESU to ensure emergency operations can continue without interruption amid damage to local power infrastructure. Local officials expressed gratitude for the timely assistance.

On July 24, 2025, South Korea's presidential administration launched an investigation into its ODA, which experts have indicated may signal a shift away from the previous government's foreign assistance policy.

Under South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, the administration is examining reports of corruption within the KOICA and other programs from the previous administration. The government is also reportedly considering cuts to the KRW6.5 trillion (US$4.7 billion) assistance budget to fund defense spending. A mid-year supplemental budget already cut KRW7.4 billion (US$5.4 billion) from allocations, and the National Assembly froze KRW80 billion (US$58.3 million) in concessional loans.

The moves mark a turn from former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s policy, which had increased the ODA to GNI ratio to a record high of 0.21% in 2024. Lee has suggested repurposing foreign assistance funds to promote South Korean culture, a departure from traditional development priorities.

On June 26, 2025, UNICEF commended South Korea's contribution to the organization of US$142 million in 2024 despite declining global ODA trends, highlighting their commitment to placing children’s rights as a priority funding area at the 19^th Annual Policy Consultation in New York.

Particular focus in the consultation was placed on expanding assistance to Africa. Korea pledged to leverage both financial resources and technical expertise to bolster global child welfare. The consultation also reinforced partnerships in health, climate, AI and tech-enabled development (through the GIGA initiative), and private-sector engagement.

The meeting concluded with the launch of a donor-visibility platform to highlight Korea’s contributions to UNICEF’s mission.

From June 9-13, 2025, the 3^rd UN Ocean Conference was hosted in Nice, France, ending with over 170 countries adopting a joint declaration committing to urgent measures for ocean conservation and sustainable use.

The event featured 55 heads of state and government as well as upwards of 15,000 participants from civil society, business, and science. The Nice Ocean Action Plan, combining this declaration with voluntary pledges, was said to mark renewed global political will for marine protection.

Key commitments included:

• A European Commission pledge of EUR1 billion (US$1.1 billion) for ocean conservation;
• A pledge by French Polynesia to create the world’s largest marine protected area;
• A pledge by New Zealand of US$52 million for Pacific Ocean governance;
• A pledge by Italy of EUR6.5 million (US$7 million) to strengthen Coast Guard surveillance in marine protected areas and on oil platforms;
• A pledge by Spain to establish five new marine protected areas, aiming to safeguard 25% of its marine territory;
• A pledge by Germany of EUR100 million (US$115 million) for Baltic and North Sea munitions clearance;
• The launch of a Coral Bond for reef conservation by Indonesia, WB, and partners.

37 countries, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, while Canada pledged US$9 million to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Alliance. UN agencies and global partners also launched a co-design process for One Ocean Finance to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors.

Nineteen more states ratified the Marine Biodiversity Treaty, bringing total signatures to 136 and ratifications to 50 states, plus the EU. Ten more ratifications are needed for the Agreement to enter into force. The 4^th UN Ocean Conference, in 2028, will be co-hosted by Chile and the Republic of Korea.

On June 2, 2025, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party was elected President of South Korea, following a snap election held after the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, securing victory with approximately 49% of the vote.

This election followed a period of political instability, including the imposition of martial law by Yoon Suk Yeol and subsequent leadership changes. Voter turnout was high, exceeding 79%, reflecting strong public engagement. The Democratic Party now holds both the presidency and a majority in the National Assembly.

Key priorities for the new administration include economic recovery, navigating relations with the US and China, and addressing ongoing domestic political divisions. The new president will also face legal challenges, as Lee Jae-myung is currently involved in ongoing court cases, which may influence his early term.

On May 16, 2025, the KOICA and Tajikistan signed agreements for two ODA projects totaling US$19 million which aim to enhance agricultural resilience to climate change in the Rudaki and Hisor regions.

The first project, valued at US$11 million, focuses on modernizing irrigation systems in Rudaki by upgrading pumping stations and providing essential equipment like excavators and bulldozers. This project is expected to benefit over 30,000 residents by improving water access for farming.

The second project, with an investment of US$8 million, will establish smart greenhouse farming infrastructure in Hisor. By introducing advanced Korean greenhouse technology, the initiative aims to support 3,000 farming households, enabling year-round cultivation and boosting agricultural productivity.

These projects highlight KOICA’s commitment to addressing climate challenges and supporting sustainable agricultural practices in Tajikistan.

On April 6, 2025, South Korea pledged US$100 million in assistance to Ukraine, citing regional security threats linked to North Korea and Russia.

The funding will be allocated toward reconstruction projects, humanitarian relief, and infrastructure repair in conflict-affected regions. South Korea’s support underscores its commitment to international stability and countering aggression in Eastern Europe.

On December 17, 2024, South Korea and CSOs held the 9^th Government-Civil Society Policy Council on International Development Cooperation.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy and Finance, KOICA, Export-Import Bank of Korea, Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperation, Korea Civil Society Forum on International Development Cooperation, Good Neighbors, World Vision Korea, and Save the Children were in attendance.

The attendees reviewed government-civil society partnerships and ways for government-civil society cooperation to strengthen ODA implementation effectiveness. The South Korean government and CSOs noted the importance of gaining public support as the scale of its ODA continues to grow.

They agreed that next year’s 4^th Mid-Term Strategy for Development Cooperation (2026-2030) should include measures to raise public awareness of ODA. The government will continue collaborating to strengthen partnerships with civil society with long-standing field experience and expertise in international development cooperation.

On December 15, 2024, Japan hosted the 17^th THMM with China and South Korea, focusing on public health security, healthy aging, and strengthening health systems to achieve UHC.

The ministers discussed improving PPR, tackling AMR, and promoting joint clinical trials and regulatory alignment across Asia. Japan highlighted the importance of strengthening health workforces, fostering innovation, and increasing cooperation between public health institutes. The countries agreed on an updated Memorandum of Cooperation and Joint Action Plan to improve coordinated responses to future global health emergencies.

On healthy aging, the countries shared strategies for preventive care, integrating long-term healthcare systems, and using technologies like care robots and ICT to meet the needs of aging populations. They also emphasized joint research on aging-related care, considering the cultural and demographic similarities of the three nations.

The three countries committed to strengthening health systems to achieve UHC, promoting digital transformation for equitable healthcare access, and supporting initiatives like Japan’s UHC Knowledge Hub, set to launch in 2025. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to collaborative health solutions, with South Korea scheduled to host the next THMM in 2025.

On December 9, 2024, South Korea and the UNOCHA held their 8^th policy meeting to review the status of major humanitarian crises cooperation and exchange views on how to efficiently respond to the increasing demand for humanitarian assistance.

MOFA Director General for Development Cooperation Jonghan Park and UNOCHA Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya led the meeting. Park announced that South Korea would contribute an additional US$24 million in 2024, supplementing UNOCHA’s US$6 million and CERF's US$18 million contribution in 2024.

The policy meeting strengthened the strategic partnership between South Korea and UNOCHA.