OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews: Korea 2018
Korea is often cited as a leading example of how sound economic policies can drive growth and development, blazing a trail from poverty to advanced industrialisation throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Building on its reputation as a development success, Korea now plays a highly valued role on the global stage, sharing its knowledge with others and helping to bridge the divide between developing and developed country interests. Among other issues, this review looks at how Korea shares its own impressive development experience with others and how it is dealing with key challenges in co-ordinating grants and loans across government. It also explores how Korea is expanding its aid programme to work on new priorities such as assistance to fragile and crisis-affected countries.
Korea's humanitarian assistance
Korea is starting to exploit its potential in a context of increased ambition for its humanitarian aid. However, its field network capacity and its rich partnerships could be better supported by a clear policy and strategic implementation plan. Korea’s humanitarian assistance tends to be thinly spread over many crises and its impact on the affected populations is not clear. Going forward, Korea could revise its strategic documents in line with its priorities and back up its commitment with more predictable funds.
