Prime Minister Han Seong-sook on July 23 speaks at a meeting of the Committee for International Development Cooperation at Government Complex-Seoul in the capital's Jongno-gu District. (Office for Government Policy Coordination-Prime Minister's Secretariat)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

Official development assistance (ODA) projects next year could reach KRW 6.3 trillion in value.

The Committee for International Development Cooperation chaired by Prime Minister Han Seong-sook on July 23 in a meeting approved the 2027 plan for such aid at Government Complex-Seoul in the capital's Jongno-gu District. The proposed budget represents a hike of KRW 871.2 billion from this year's figure.

ODA projects next year will focus on boosting response capabilities to global crises while expanding concentrated support for strategic sectors such as health, culture and artificial intelligence (AI). The plan is to help partner countries build flood management infrastructure including dams and river restoration, expand proposal-based ODA reflecting the needs of such nations and advance development finance initiatives to stimulate private investment.

A key task is reinforcement of cooperation with international organizations through the Global AI Hub, which will open next year, and utilize the capabilities of Korean AI companies to help partner countries resolve internal problems.

By region, Asia will receive the largest share of ODA (29.4%), followed by Africa (24.6%), the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States (9.3%), and Latin America (6.8%).

Transportation will get the largest share for a sector (21.9%), followed by health (10.8%), humanitarian assistance (9.7%) and education (8.1%).

dusrud21@korea.kr