- Policy
- ODA allocation overview
- ODA to and through the multilateral system
- Bilateral ODA
- Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA
- Private sector instruments
- Mobilised private finance
- Total Official Support for Sustainable Development
- Institutional set-up
- Quality and oversight
- Other profiles
- Additional resources
Development Co‑operation Profiles: Korea
Table of contents
Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) has been increasing over the past decade. Its development co-operation focuses on least developed countries (LDCs) and lower middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia and Africa. Korea primarily provides ODA through bilateral co-operation, which includes both grants and concessional loans. Korea has one of the highest gross bilateral ODA shares of country programmable aid and ODA to LDCs among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members. Korea’s total ODA increased in 2024 to USD 3.9 billion (preliminary data), representing 0.21% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on development assistance allocation. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
Korea aims to double ODA volume from 2019 to 2030 to advance global values and mutual development. This goal is pursued through strategies of inclusive, co‑prosperous, innovative and co-operative ODA, as outlined in the 3rd Mid-term Strategy for International Development Cooperation for 2021-25. With a focus on 27 priority partner countries, Korea tailors its partnership strategies to align with each country’s specific needs and contexts.
The 2022 Framework Act on Sustainable Development and its enforcement decree includes cross-government commitments to achieve sustainable development. The Korean government has strengthened its partnerships with civil society through a new policy and implementation plan. Additionally, as a founding member of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, Korea also actively supports its initiatives, having hosted the fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan in 2011, and regularly convening the Busan Global Partnership Forum to strengthen momentum on the development effectiveness agenda.
The 2024 Peer Review praised Korea’s commitment to greater global responsibility, highlighting its significant increase in ODA. It also commended Korea for implementing previous recommendations, such as improving co-ordination within its development co-operation system through policy framework updates and enhanced partnerships with civil society. The review encouraged Korea to strengthen strategic partnerships, engage in dialogue with multilateral partners, and collaborate with bilateral providers beyond specific project support. The Peer Review found that Korea had fully or partially implemented all 12 recommendations from the 2018 Peer Review. Discover insights from Korea’s 2024 Peer Review and 2021 mid-term review, and learn from Korea’s practices in Development Co-operation Tools Insights Practices (TIPs).
Korea provided USD 3.9 billion (preliminary data) of ODA in 2024 (USD 3.9 billion in constant terms), representing 0.21% of GNI.1 This was an increase of 24.8% in real terms in volume and an increase in the share of GNI from 2023. The overall ODA volume has consistently increased since Korea joined the DAC in 2010. Korea is mindful of the need to achieve the 0.7% ODA/GNI target but has not set a domestic target. Both Korea’s ODA volume and ODA/GNI ratio have been gradually increasing in recent years, reflecting its efforts to scale up development co-operation. Within Korea’s ODA portfolio in 2023, 69.7% was provided in the form of grants and 30.3% in the form of non-grants.2
In 2024, Korea ranks 26th in terms of ODA/GNI ratio. Among DAC members in 2023, Korea had one of the highest gross bilateral ODA shares of country programmable aid (75.9%), ODA to LDCs (31.5%), and ODA to fragile contexts (36.8%). In 2023, 30.3% of Korea’s total gross ODA was provided in the form of non-grants. Fifty-five per cent of private finance mobilised by Korea in 2023 benefited the LDCs and other LICs, the second largest share amongst DAC members.
Korea has committed to several international targets and DAC standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC Recommendations.
Note: This table only includes information about ODA data-related DAC Recommendations. ODA: official development assistance; GNI: gross national income; DAC: Development Assistance Committee.
Korea provided most of its ODA bilaterally in 2023. Gross bilateral ODA was 76.1% of total ODA disbursements. Twenty per cent of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2023, Korea provided USD 1.4 billion of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 13.4% in real terms from 2022. Of this, USD 835.5 million was core multilateral ODA (23.9% of total ODA), while USD 539.2 million was non-core contributions earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Project-type funding earmarked for a specific theme and/or country accounted for 62.8% of Korea’s non-core contributions and 37.2% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
The United Nations (UN) system received 37.9% of Korea’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 353.4 million (67.8%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 520.8 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Korea’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the World Food Programme (USD 78.8 million), the United Nations Children’s Fund (USD 59.1 million) and the United Nations Development Programme (USD 54.9 million).
See the section on Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA for the breakdown of bilateral allocations, including ODA earmarked through the multilateral development system.
Learn more by exploring the dashboard on DAC members’ use of the multilateral system.
In 2023, Korea’s bilateral spending increased compared to the previous year. It provided USD 2.7 billion of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented an increase of 6.7% in real terms from 2022.
In 2023, country programmable aid amounted to USD 2 billion, or 76% of Korea’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 43.1%. This was a decrease of 88.3% in real terms over 2022.
Korea disbursed USD 2.2 million for triangular co-operation in 2023. Its regional priority is Asia, with a focus on energy. Learn more about triangular co-operation.
In 2023, Korea channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through the public sector and multilateral organisations. Technical co-operation made up 9.3% of gross ODA in 2023.
In 2023, civil society organisations (CSOs) received USD 67.9 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 2.8% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 0.1% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 2.4% was channelled through CSOs to implement projects initiated by the donor (earmarked funding). From 2022 to 2023, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs increased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 2.3% to 2.6%. Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2023, Korea’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on Asia (excluding the Middle East) and Africa. USD 1.3 billion was allocated to Asia (excluding the Middle East) and USD 490.5 million to countries in Africa, accounting respectively for 49% and 18.5% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 289.4 million was allocated to Latin America and the Caribbean. Asia (excluding the Middle East) was also the main regional recipient of Korea’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations. Asia and Africa were also the main regional recipient of Korea's earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations in line with its overall policy regional focus.
In 2023, 44.3% of gross bilateral ODA went to Korea’s top 10 recipients. With the exception of Ethiopia and El Salvador, its top 10 recipients are in Asia, in line with its policy priorities. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 18.4%, of which 0.3% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.
In 2023, Korea allocated 0.06% of its GNI to LDCs. Korea allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (39.6%) to lower middle-income countries in 2023, noting that 18.4% was unallocated by income group. LDCs received 31.5% of Korea’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 837.2 million). Additionally, Korea allocated 18% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2023, equal to USD 477.5 million. Korea allocated 2.1% of gross bilateral ODA to small island developing states in 2023, equal to USD 55.9 million.
Looking at the distribution of Korea’s ODA in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”,3 the amount was USD 1.5 in LDCs, USD 2.1 in LMICs and USD 4.9 in upper middle-income countries.
In 2024, Korea provided USD 105.5 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a 100.5% increase from 2023 in real terms.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 978.8 million in 2023, representing 36.8% of Korea’s gross bilateral ODA. Five per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, a decrease from 6.3% in 2022, while 8.5% was allocated to peace, an increase from 6% in 2022. Two per cent of gross bilateral ODA went to conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, representing an increase from 1.2% in 2022. Learn more about the OECD States of Fragility platform.
In 2023, the largest focus of Korea’s bilateral ODA was economic infrastructure and services. Investments in this area accounted for 43.4% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 2.1 billion), with a strong focus on support to transport and storage (USD 1.7 billion), energy (USD 355.7 million), and communications (USD 24.8 million). ODA for social infrastructure and services totalled USD 1.7 billion, with a focus on education (USD 520.6 million). Production sectors amounted to USD 381.1 million (7.9% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations focused also on social sectors and other macro sectors in 2023.
In the period 2022-23, Korea committed 28% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment, compared to 24.9% in 2020-214 and a 2022-23 DAC average of 45.8%. This is equal to USD 1.2 billion of screened bilateral allocable ODA in support of gender equality on average per year. In addition:
The share of screened bilateral allocable ODA committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment as a principal objective was 1.3% in 2022-23, compared with the DAC average of 4%.
Korea includes gender equality objectives in 10.8% of ODA for humanitarian aid, below the 2022‑23 DAC average of 19.1%.
Korea screens the majority of bilateral allocable ODA activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (96.2% in 2022-23).
Korea committed USD 12.2 million of ODA to end violence against women and girls and USD 10.9 million to support women’s rights organisations and movements, and government institutions on average in 2022-23.
Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance and the DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Development Co-operation, and by exploring the dashboard on DAC members’ development finance for gender equality.
In 2022-23, Korea committed 61.3% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 2.8 billion) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 32.2% in 2020-21. The DAC average was 39% in 2022-23. In addition:
Twenty-four per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 9.6%.
Fifty-seven per cent of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 2.6 billion) focused on climate change overall, up from 25.6% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 34.8%). Korea had a greater focus on adaptation (43%) than on mitigation (35.3%) in 2022-23.
Seven per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 319.7 million) focused on biodiversity overall, up from 4.7% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 7.6%).
Learn more about the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Note: Individual Rio Markers should not be added up as this can result in double counting.
The OECD’s tracking of ODA for the sustainable ocean economy shows that Korea committed USD 305.5 million in support of the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean in 2023, USD 263.7 million more than in 2022. The 2023 value is equivalent to 6.5% of Korea’s bilateral allocable ODA.
In 2023, Korea:
Allocated 11.7% of its bilateral ODA (USD 311.3 million) to core poverty-reducing sectors as defined by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.a.1. This indicator captures grants to basic social services (such as basic health and education, water supply and sanitation) and development food aid. A further 0.2% of bilateral ODA (USD 6.6 million) went to social protection support.
Committed USD 35.8 million (0.8% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to address the immediate or underlying determinants of malnutrition in developing countries across a variety of sectors, such as emergency response; agriculture, forestry and fishing; and health.
Committed USD 427.4 million (9.1% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Committed USD 1.1 million to the mobilisation of domestic resources in developing countries. Regarding the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services, Korea does not have a general policy seeking exemptions on its ODA-funded goods and services in partner countries and territories, and it does not make information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 2.4 billion (50.4% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2023. Korea is among the top 10 official providers of aid for trade globally.
To build markets in developing countries and incentivise greater mobilisation of private resources for development, many providers, including Korea, have established development finance institutions (DFIs) and similar vehicles that extend private sector instruments (PSI). Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and Economic Development Promotion Facility (EDPF) were assessed as ODA-eligible PSI vehicles. Korea did not provide ODA in PSI in 2023, noting that the DAC average share of PSI in ODA stood at 1.3%.
Korea uses leveraging mechanisms to mobilise private finance for sustainable development. In 2023, Korea’s Korea International Cooperation Agency mobilised USD 22 million from the private sector through simple co-financing. This constituted a 17.6% decrease compared to 2022.
Forty-four per cent of total private finance mobilised by Korea in 2022-23 targeted middle-income countries. Fifty-five per cent during this period benefited the LDCs and other LICs.
Mobilised private finance by Korea in 2022-23 related mainly to activities in agriculture, forestry and fishing (24.8%) as its top sector. Furthermore, over this period, 35.6% of Korea’s total mobilised private finance was for climate action.
Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) is an international statistical standard that monitors and increases transparency of all official and officially supported resources for financing the SDGs in developing countries, as well as for addressing global challenges. In 2023, activities reported by Korea as TOSSD totalled USD 4.7 billion, up from USD 4.3 billion in 2022. Korea’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 3 (good health and well-being) and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals). Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
The CIDC is Korea’s top decision-making body for development co-operation, operating under the Framework Act on International Development Cooperation. Chaired by the prime minister, the CIDC is comprised of government ministers, heads of key agencies and civilian experts, with secretariat support provided by the Office for International Development Cooperation under the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) oversees grants, mainly managed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MoEF) supervises KEXIM (Export-Import Bank of Korea), managing concessional loans via the EDCF. Most of Korea’s ODA budget is handled by MoFA, the MoEF and their agencies, with some allocated across other institutions.
Around 120 staff members work on development co-operation in the OPC, the MoEF and MoFA. In addition, around 90 staff members are working in diplomatic missions. KOICA has more than 900 staff, with 33% employed at headquarters and 67% deployed in partner countries, of which 73% are locally hired staff. The EDCF (KEXIM) employs more than 238 staff, with 82% based at headquarters and 18% in partner countries.
Korea maintains regular policy consultation channels, such as the Government-Civil Society Policy Consultation facilitated by the OPC, the Civil Society Policy Dialogue and the Humanitarian Assistance Public-Private Consultation Council overseen by MoFA. To ensure meaningful engagement in shaping, implementing and evaluating ODA policies and projects, civilian experts participate as members of the CIDC, the highest decision-making body for ODA policy.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the effective delivery of Korea’s development co-operation. Select features are shown in the table below.
Access the full list of providers at this link: Development Co-operation Profiles.
2024 OECD-DAC Peer Review of Korea: https://doi.org/10.1787/889c6564-en
2021 OECD-DAC mid-term review of Korea: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/AR(2024)3/26/en/pdf
ODA Korea portal: https://www.odakorea.go.kr/eng/main
Green New Deal ODA Strategy: https://www.odakorea.go.kr/kor/bbs/PlanAndResulList?bbs_id=kor_001
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA): www.koica.go.kr/sites/koica_en/index.do
Strategic plan for ODA under the Yoon administration: https://www.odakorea.go.kr/eng/bbs/GalleryList?bbs_id=eng_105
2022 Framework Act on Sustainable Development: https://me.go.kr/home/web/policy_data/read.do;jsessionid=UQdXS3aZ4G0nTSq5Kdf1Qy8K.mehome1?pagerOffset=0&maxPageItems=10&maxIndexPages=10&searchKey=&searchValue=&menuId=10261&orgCd=&condition.toInpYmd=null&condition.fromInpYmd=null&condition.orderSeqId=7923&condition.rnSeq=28&condition.deleteYn=N&condition.deptNm=null&seq=7924
Korea Export-Import Bank Economic Development Cooperation Fund: https://www.edcfkorea.go.kr/he/index
CSO umbrella organisation Korea Civil Society Forum on International Development Cooperation (KoFID): http://kofid.org/en
CSO umbrella organisation Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperation (KCOC): www.ngokcoc.or.kr
Korea has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 2010.
The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied, including the grant-equivalent methodology, core and earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, country programmable aid, channels of delivery, bilateral ODA unspecified/unallocated, bilateral allocable ODA, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
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The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
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← 1. DAC members adopted the grant-equivalent methodology starting from their reporting of 2018 data as a more accurate way to count the donor effort in development loans. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 2. Non-grants include sovereign loans, multilateral loans, equity investment and loans to the private sector.
← 3. Aid per person in extreme poverty is calculated by dividing net ODA (bilateral and imputed multilateral) by the population in extreme poverty in each country. Group averages are calculated based on a weighted average of aid per person in extreme poverty and the number of people in extreme poverty for each country in the group. For more information on this indicator, please see here.
← 4. The use of the recommended minimum criteria for the marker by some members in recent years can result in lower levels of ODA reported as being focused on gender equality.