By Kim Hyelin

Official development assistance (ODA) could be expanded to cover artificial intelligence (AI) and culture.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination on Jan. 28 discussed this at a public hearing hosted by the Korea Federation of Banks in Seoul's Jung-gu District, later announcing the main direction of the fourth comprehensive basic plan for international development cooperation (2026-30).

The plan is to add AI and culture as priority sectors for ODA, joining health, education, rural development, public administration and climate. The nation's AI and information and communications technology capacities will also be leveraged into business areas to yield synergy and raise the efficiency of ODA projects through inter-project links and development of large ventures.

Efforts will also raise the transparency and legitimacy of ODA projects through the adoption of real-name and recordkeeping systems for such projects and stronger criteria for changes to and launches of new ones. The release of information will also be expanded throughout the project process.

As the highest-level national strategy for ODA, the plan is set every five years under the Framework Act on International Development Cooperation. As the third edition expired last year, the fourth outlines policy directions over the next five years, from this year through 2030.

The final draft of the plan will be released next month.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr