Korean ODA Research Articles

What motivates South Korean Official Development Assistance?

AbstractOfficial Development Assistance (ODA) is defined by a motive: the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries. This review article considers the motives of one donor, South Korea, with a close reading and comparison of three authoritative texts. It argues that Korean ODA is primarily motivated by increasing status and influence, and supporting the overseas expansion of Korean companies. There is also a contribution from secondary motivations more clearly related to the definition of ODA: humanitarianism and being a good global citizen.

한국의 지식 공유형 교육 ODA 정책 내러티브에 관한 비판적 담론 분석

This study examines how education ODA policy narrative has been delivered in the form of policy transfer through the Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP) from South Korea to partner countries and further explores what kind of education policy discourse is being formed in the process. To this end, a critical discourse analysis was conducted on 33 policy advisory reports of KSP projects in the education sector from 2005 to 2021. The results can be divided mainly into three dimensions. In terms of textual practice, the KSP reports deliver a tacit message that Korea's education policies and systems are superior to those of partner countries by repeatedly using specific vocabulary or reinforcing contrasting metaphors when describing the current educational state of Korea and partner countries. At the level of discursive practice, the forms of description tended to be particularly bureaucratic and stereotyped, simply listing information according to a consistent structure. Moreover, the content of the reports, in general, was characterized by lacking consideration of the different social contexts of the partner countries. In terms of socio-cultural practice, it was confirmed that the situational context in which the report was planned and written ─ as well as the political stance of the Korean government had a significant influence on the formation of the policy narrative. This study examined the trends, characteristics, problems, and limitations of Korean education ODA analyzed in previous studies from a new perspective of discourse formation and dissemination through critical discourse analysis of policy narratives. On that basis, this study suggests considerations essential for Korean education ODA to create a narrative with its own originality and expertise.

How Can Paraguay Promote Skills through Korea TVET ODA?

Korea has continued steady growth in its official development assistance volume. Korea provided USD 2.2 billion, representing 0.14 percent of its gross national income (GNI) in 2020. Korea’s ODA budget has grown steadily. The Korean ODA project is expected to continue to increase in the field of TVET (technical vocational education and training) for developing countries. In early stage, the ODA project has been centered on Asian developing countries, but it is gradually expanding to Latin America and Africa. This paper analyzes the economy and ODA support status of Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, and Peru which are Korea's key ODA partners. Among the four countries, Paraguay's TVET and ODA current status are intensively focused. Through this, a plan for improving ODA performance and establishing a vocational education and training system is suggested. Suggestions for the improvement policies are as establishment of goal, vision and strategy for national TVET policy, establishment of comprehensive coordination mechanism between the government and the private sector, and establishment, promotion of TVET system and program.

ODA 평가기준 다양화에 관한 연구

Purpose: The OECD DAC presents six evaluation criteria. However, this study searches for additional evaluation criteria so that it can allow ODA evaluators to select appropriate evaluation criteria depending on their evaluation purpose and ODA requirements.
 Originality: Korean government has mechanically applied the six criteria suggested by DAC in evaluating its ODA policy. However, this practice may not meet the various objectives of numerous Korean ODA stakeholders. Thus, it is important to look for additional ODA evaluation criteria which reflect the opinions of the ODA stakeholders. This research aims to make contribution to the field of ODA policy by identifying additional ODA evaluation criteria.
 Methodology: This research used ‘constituency approach’ of organization theory to find additional ODA evaluation criteria. Initially, seven new (additional) evaluation criteria were identified based on the literature on policy evaluation of public administration and on international debates regarding ODA evaluation reform. Then, the seven criteria were presented to relevant stakeholders (or constituents) in government, public agencies, academia/research institutes, and private sector to conduct survey on the adequacy of the standards. The survey data were analyzed by SPSS ANOVA method.
 Result: The ANOVA analyses narrowed down the initial seven additional evaluation criteria to five which consist of Korean-style ODA, mutual cooperation, ownership, diversity/equity/inclusion, and democracy.
 Conclusion and Implication: It is critical to utilize various ODA evaluation criteria to which the ODA constituents can consent. By doing so, ODA policy can adequately evaluate its projects which tend to have diverse objectives and stakeholders. Thus, it is urgently required for the Korean government to adopt new ODA evaluation system, and revise its manuals accordingly.

Foreign Aid and Donor's Exports to the Recipients: The South Korean Case

This paper examined the relationship between foreign aid and export, for the case of Korea from 1965 to 2015. I argue that foreign aid promotes donor's export to the recipient for following reasons: (1) the explicit and implicit tied-aid agreements directly increase export; and (2) implementing aid policy involves transferring not only money but also people. Thus, it serves as building the political, economic, and social relationships between donor and recipient countries. Those spillover effects of foreign aid can increase the export of donor countries. By applying a dynamic gravity model with GMM estimators, I provided empirical evidence that Korean bilateral ODA is positively related to its export to the recipients. The result showed that the impact of Korean ODA on its exports is positive and more significant in the post-1990s. In specific, for the later period, a percentage increase in Korean bilateral aid is associated with 0.095% increase in export in the short-term and 0.22% increase in export in the long run.

Lessons from the Past and Sectoral Priorities in Bilateral Official Development Assistance

As a donor, the Republic of Korea emphasizes five sectors as primary targets for official development assistance—education, health, governance, agriculture, and industry and energy—which contributed to its own rapid economic growth; that is, the country uses its own development experience as a development assistance model. This study examines the determinants of Korean ODA allocation for each of these sectors. We hypothesize that Korea is likely to allocate more targeted ODA to countries with less achievement in these sectors, and that this tendency is stronger for low-income countries. Using disaggregated Korean ODA allocation data for 2006 to 2015, we find that while the income of recipient countries generally has a significant effect on the allocation of ODA to each sector, the level of development of that particular sector does not appear to have systematic effects on allocations. This null finding may be due to the lack of coordination among the country’s many ODA institutions and the alignment of ODA with the demands and preferences of the recipient countries.

New Act and New Role: Recent Changes in Korea's International Development Cooperation

In November 2020, the fully amended Framework Act on International Development Cooperation came into force. Since its first enactment in 2010, the Framework Act has functioned as a legal basis for the Korean ODA system, with this revision coming 10 years into its operation. The core contents of the revised Framework Act aim to further strengthen the authority and role of two major implementing ministries, that is, the MOFA and MOEF, and embassies in partner countries, centering on the Committee for International Development Cooperation (CIDC). It is hoped that Korea's ODA will truly grow in its effectiveness as the CIDC becomes an ultimate decision-making body in the planning and budgeting process. There are three points to be considered for this. First, the CIDC should not micromanage individual projects but focus on more comprehensive, national-level strategies such as the Strategic Plan and CPSs. Second, strategic evaluation must be performed, based not on the results of individual projects but on the outcomes and indicators developed for the strategies in advance. Third, global development agenda must be identified to present strategic directions. The CIDC needs to come up with a strategic direction for matters in which no ministry in charge has been specified, such as responding to COVID-19 in developing countries.

Current Status and Implications of Korean ODA for Vietnam: The Case of Mekong Delta from the View of Climate Change

Current Status and Implications of Korean ODA for Vietnam: The Case of Mekong Delta from the View of Climate Change

Comparative Study of South Korean and Japanese Transportation Infrastructure ODA Policies towards Vietnam

Comparative Study of South Korean and Japanese Transportation Infrastructure ODA Policies towards Vietnam

OECD 개발원조위원회(DAC) 가입 10주년 성과와 과제 (Korea as an OECD DAC Member: 10-Year Achievements and Way Forward)

OECD 개발원조위원회(DAC) 가입 10주년 성과와 과제 (Korea as an OECD DAC Member: 10-Year Achievements and Way Forward)

Comparative analysis of Japanese and Korean ODA investment in Vietnam

Comparative analysis of Japanese and Korean ODA investment in Vietnam

Agricultural Aid Allocations of Korea in Five sub-Saharan Countries: Aid Policy Implications for Agriculture-Rural Development

Background:The Official Development Assistance, or ODA has been an invaluable source to assist developing countries in their economic and social development. Of the major ODA donors, the Republic of Korea (Korea) became a significant player in ODA and a role model. Providing its ODA, Korea designates the priority partner countries to which 70% of Korean bilateral ODA is allocated and formulates a country partnership strategy for each priority partner country.Objective:This study focuses on five sub-Saharan countries that were designated as Korea’s priority partner countries during the period of 2011-2020 and takes a detailed look at Korea’s ODA to their Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) during the same period. With the five countries and ARD, this study intends to examine a hypothesis; the worse its food security and agricultural development was at a national level, the larger Korea’s ARD aid the country received.Methods:To test the hypothesis, data collected from World Bank, Global Hunger Index Reports and Korea ODA Statistics are sorted and analyzed. Then comparisons are made between Korea’s grant disbursements to ARD and the status of food security of the five African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Uganda.Results:Results from the data indicate that there seems little consistency between the status of agriculture and food security of the five African countries and the allocated amounts of Korean ARD grants.Conclusion:Therefore, selection criteria for ARD grant allocation should exist and policy suggestions are made for Korea to formulate more consistent and systemic strategies for ARD support in sub-Saharan countries.

한국의 아프리카 ODA 국가별 배분에서 공여국 경제적 요인의 중요성

한국의 아프리카 ODA 국가별 배분에서 공여국 경제적 요인의 중요성

개발로 인한 퇴거와 빈민의 사회자본 - 마닐라 남부 통근철도 사업을 사례로 - : The Case Study on North-South Railway Project in Metro Manila, Philippines

새로운 지역에 비자발적으로 이주한 사람은 심리적인, 그리고 실질적인 곤궁함을 겪게 마련이다. 이러한 영향으로 융합하기보다는 새로운 지역에서 소외되어 예전의 지역으로 돌아가 비공식적인 주거와 일자리를 택하는 사람이 많아졌다. 본고에서는 이주정책에 따라 안정적인 주거를 확보할 기회를 얻었음에도 비공식 삶(콜로룸)을 택하는 것은 무슨 이유 때문인지 묻고자 한다. 필리핀 정부가 도시빈민을 재정착시키는 프로그램을 수행하는데 사회자본을 염두에 두고 있지 않다. 도시 빈민의 사회자본 특징을 고려한다면, 현재 정부의 정책은 사회자본의 생성을 생성하거나 지속가능하게 유지하는 데 실패하고 있다.BR 반면, 한국정부의 ODA 정책은 한국의 개발 경험을 세계에 알리고 국가적 이익을 꾀하고 있다는 점에서 공여국 위주의 정책이라는 비판을 받고 있다. 빈민의 어려운 삶에 대한 이해가 부족하고, 철거를 경험한 사람들의 가혹한 현실에 관계 당국이 제대로 귀 기울지 않을 때, 수천 가구의 빈민들이 개발 사업 이후 더욱 극심한 빈곤과 참혹함을 겪을 것임은 자명한 일이다.BR

The Current Status and Future Development of South Korean ODA Sport Programs

본 연구는 스포츠 ODA 사업의 공여국과 수원국 간 인식차이를 비교하고 각 항목의 중요성을 매타분석을 통하여 포지셔닝 함으로써 향후 스포츠 공적개발원조 사업의 효과성을 극대화 시킬 수 있는 요소를 확인하고자 하는데 그 목적이 있으며 이러한 목적을 달성하기 위하여 2014년 7월 10일~8월1 4일까지 국내·외의 스포츠 ODA 관련 학자, 행정가 및 관련업무 종사자 308명을 대상으로 실시하였다. 조사에 이용한 도구는 질문지였으며 t-test, IPA를 응용하여 다음과 같은 결론이 도출되었다.BR 첫째, 공여국 국민으로서의 자긍심 상승, 세계평화와 경제번영에 기여 항목이 스포츠 ODA를 통하여 공여국(한국)이 얻을 수 있는 이점으로 인식하고 있었다.BR 둘째, 원조정책의 투명성을 높이고 정보공개 확대, 개발협력관련 교육 및 홍보 강화 항목을 스포츠 ODA의 우선적 개선과제로 인식하고 있었다.BR 셋째, 엘리트선수의 스포츠기능향상 지원, 청소년, 여성, 장애인의 스포츠지원화 항목을 스포츠 ODA의 효과적 지원 분야로 인식하고 있었다.BR 넷째, 체육계와 개발협력전문가의 소통채널 구축, 스포츠부문 전문 인력의 개도국 현장 파견 확대, 국제사회의 스포츠와 발전(개발) 논의에 적극 참여 항목을 스포츠 ODA의 우선 활성화 방안으로 인식하고 있었다.

개발원조위원회 회원국의 공적개발원조 부담률에 비추어 본 한국의 공여실적 재평가

개발원조위원회 회원국의 공적개발원조 부담률에 비추어 본 한국의 공여실적 재평가

ODA 지원 베트남 중부 꽝남성 종합병원의 거주후 평가

Purpose: This is ex-post evaluation on the Central General Hospital in Quang Nam Province in Vietnam funded by Korean ODA. Through this evaluation, this study tries to explore useful ways to improve effectiveness of Korean ODA projects related to hospital establishment. Methods: Field survey and analysis of questionaire to staffs and patients of Quang Nam Province General Hospital were conducted twice in 2012 and 2014 after completion of Hospital. Two sets of surveys and questionaire outcomes have been comparatively analysed by statistics in order to seek trend of satisfaction level of hospital users and find out improvement way in hospital design and construction. Results: The satisfaction level on hospital was relatively high and that of 2014 is higher than that of 2012. The satisfaction level of users was recorded in Likert 5 scales. Continuous facility complement and maintenance is considered as main contributor in increasing satisfaction level of users. As far as satisfaction level of outpatient is concerned, that of 2012 was recorded as 3.65 and that of 2014 was 4.05. In case of inpatient, satisfaction level on hospital in 2012 was 3.76, and 4.06 in 2014. Implications: In overseas hospital projects, proper hospital project management system including medical service plan, strategic plan, brief, design & construction and maintenance have to be put together effectively and efficiently for success of hospital project. At same time local climate, culture, building material and local code have to be considered in order to build sustainable hospital.

The Political Economy of Selecting Korean ODA Priority Partner Countries

한국 정부는 2010년과 2015년 두 차례에 걸쳐서 한국 ODA 중점협력국가들을 선정하였다. 이를 통하여 한국 ODA를 집중적으로 지원하고, 원조효과성을 높이려는 시도를 한 것이다. 중점협력국 선정 과정에는 두 가지의 큰 목적들이 고려되었을 것으로 판단된다. 첫째는 정치적 목적이다. 수원국들과의 외교적 관계를 중요시하고 재선을 고려해야 하는 정책결정자들은 자신들의 정치적 목적을 달성하기 위한 방식으로 중점협력국을 선정했을 것이다. 둘째는 관료적 목적이다. ODA의 인도적 지원, 원조효과성 제고, 기존 ODA 정책의 일관성 유지, 한국 경제이익의 추구 등의 다양한 목적들이 중점협력국 선정과정에 고려되었을 것이다.BR 이 글은 한국 정부의 ODA 선정에 영향을 끼쳤을 것으로 판단되는 다양한 정치적 목적 관련 요인들과 관료적 목적 관련 요인들의 중요성을 검증하기 위하여 두 차례에 걸친 선정 과정에 관한 회귀분석을 시도하였다. 회귀분석의 결과는 관료적 목적 관련 변수들이 더 중요했던 것으로 판단된다.BR 한국 정부가 향후 ODA 규모를 증가하게 되면, 한국 정부의 ODA 중점협력국 선정 정책은 국제정치적으로 더욱 민감한 문제가 될 가능성이 크다. 이렇게 되면, 정치적 목적관련 변수들이 더 중요하게 작동될 수 있는 가능성이 있다. 한국 정부는 정치적 목적과 관료적 목적을 종합적으로 고려한 방식의 합리적 ODA 정책을 수립할 필요가 있다.

ODA development demand and strategies for Bangladesh Small and Medium enterprise: Korean ODA application for small and medium-sized business

ODA development demand and strategies for Bangladesh Small and Medium enterprise: Korean ODA application for small and medium-sized business

Financial Inclusion and Microfinance: On the Cases of ODA and Analysis of the Poverty Reduction Effect

This study analyzes the microfinance ODA projects of Germany and Australia, and presents the exemplary characteristics of each country that Korea will be able to use for Korean microfinance ODA projects. Moreover, this study makes an empirical analysis of whether the use of microfinance reduces poverty by using the methodology of Imai et al. (2012). In particular, this study casts light on the two aspects overlooked by Imai et al. (2012): (1) suitability tests for instrumental variables using a variety of methods and (2) estimation of poverty reduction effect by using two explanatory variables — average amount of microfinance loan per person and microfinance market size per country measured by the ratio of the total microfinance loan amount to GDP. We find evidence that the poverty rate significantly decreases by 0.463% as the average microfinance loan amount per person increases by 10%.