Policy Updates

From June 9-13, 2025, the 3^rd UN Ocean Conference was hosted in Nice, France, ending with over 170 countries adopting a joint declaration committing to urgent measures for ocean conservation and sustainable use.

The event featured 55 heads of state and government as well as upwards of 15,000 participants from civil society, business, and science. The Nice Ocean Action Plan, combining this declaration with voluntary pledges, was said to mark renewed global political will for marine protection.

Key commitments included:

• A European Commission pledge of EUR1 billion (US$1.1 billion) for ocean conservation;
• A pledge by French Polynesia to create the world’s largest marine protected area;
• A pledge by New Zealand of US$52 million for Pacific Ocean governance;
• A pledge by Italy of EUR6.5 million (US$7 million) to strengthen Coast Guard surveillance in marine protected areas and on oil platforms;
• A pledge by Spain to establish five new marine protected areas, aiming to safeguard 25% of its marine territory;
• A pledge by Germany of EUR100 million (US$115 million) for Baltic and North Sea munitions clearance;
• The launch of a Coral Bond for reef conservation by Indonesia, WB, and partners.

37 countries, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, while Canada pledged US$9 million to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Alliance. UN agencies and global partners also launched a co-design process for One Ocean Finance to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors.

Nineteen more states ratified the Marine Biodiversity Treaty, bringing total signatures to 136 and ratifications to 50 states, plus the EU. Ten more ratifications are needed for the Agreement to enter into force. The 4^th UN Ocean Conference, in 2028, will be co-hosted by Chile and the Republic of Korea.

On May 16, 2025, the KOICA and Tajikistan signed agreements for two ODA projects totaling US$19 million which aim to enhance agricultural resilience to climate change in the Rudaki and Hisor regions.

The first project, valued at US$11 million, focuses on modernizing irrigation systems in Rudaki by upgrading pumping stations and providing essential equipment like excavators and bulldozers. This project is expected to benefit over 30,000 residents by improving water access for farming.

The second project, with an investment of US$8 million, will establish smart greenhouse farming infrastructure in Hisor. By introducing advanced Korean greenhouse technology, the initiative aims to support 3,000 farming households, enabling year-round cultivation and boosting agricultural productivity.

These projects highlight KOICA’s commitment to addressing climate challenges and supporting sustainable agricultural practices in Tajikistan.

On November 19, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol reaffirmed the country's support for climate change by expanding green ODA at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Yoon framed the country's role in the climate transition as 'serving as a green ladder' for climate change during a speech at the 3^rd session of the G20 Summit, which focused on themes including sustainable development and energy transition and international cooperation.

Yoon gave an update on Korea's US$300 million contribution to the Green Climate Fund at India's G20 Summit in September 2023. He also reaffirmed his administration’s plan to contribute US$7 million to the UN Loss and Damage Fund for Developing Countries pledged in June 2024, at the Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul.

While stressing the importance of the Carbon Free Energy Initiative, Yoon expressed a willingness to support climate-vulnerable countries.

On October 16, 2024, the South Korean MOFA and the Seoul Policy Centre of UNDP co-hosted 2024 Seoul Debates under the theme of Empowering Climate Action with Digital Technologies: How to initiate lasting and inclusive change to achieve the SDGs.

The Seoul Debates is an international conference co-hosted by MOFA and UNDP Seoul Policy Centre since 2013 to share South Korea’s experience in development cooperation.

The 2^nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Insun Kang, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, and government officials and representatives from the private sector, academia, and civil society attended the event. Vice Minister Kang called for more efforts for AI and digital technologies utilization and partnerships with the private sector. She also highlighted South Korea’s expansion of green ODA projects and UNDP’s Climate Promise program in her congratulatory remarks.

The MOFA will actively share its development experiences and policies with the international community through dialogues.

On June 4, 2024, South Korean President Suk Yeol Yoon announced to increase South Korea’s ODA to US$10 billion by 2030 as a catalyst for projects for cooperation with Africa at the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit.

The increase is double the level of South Korea's 2024 ODA budget. At the Korea-Africa Summit, a joint declaration was adopted to support e-government in Africa and proactively promote the KSP for Africa’s economic development and digital-based trade.

The joint declaration presented three priority areas:

• Shared growth: expand ODA up to US$10 billion by 2030, provide US$14 billion in export financing to Korean companies, and share the lessons learned from the experience of concluding free trade agreements;
• Sustainability: strengthen international cooperation to create a climate finance architecture responsive to Africa’s needs, advance cooperation for food security and sustainable agriculture, and establish primary healthcare infrastructure and leadership for critical mineral reserves; and
• Solidarity: support counterterrorism efforts and continue efforts in providing humanitarian assistance, achieve irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and cultivate talented human resources through education and training.

On May 27, 2024, South Korean Special Representative for Indo-Pacific Keeyong Chung attended the 4^th International Conference on SIDS in Antigua and Barbuda.

The conference is organized by the UN Secretariat to discuss issues related to the development of small island developing states. It is held every 10 years, beginning with the 1994 Barbados Conference.

Chung introduced South Korea's expansion of ODA to fulfill its role as a responsible member of the international community. He promoted customized support to SIDS to overcome structural vulnerabilities and improve resilience, reflecting the needs of each region, including Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean.

Chung also emphasized the need to diversify development finances and increase climate resilience to revitalize the economies of SIDS. The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States was adopted at the conference to fulfill common goals in support of SIDS over 10 years.

On March 5, 2024, South Korea and Australia renewed their MOU on development cooperation since its first signing in 2019.

The renewed MOU outlined an institutional framework for cooperation on new bilateral development cooperation policies, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and sectors (gender equality, climate change, humanitarian assistance, etc.), and strengthening of cooperation mechanisms. In particular, the document set out guidelines for Director General level-biennial meetings of Development Cooperation Policy Council.

The updated agreement is expected to further strengthen cooperation between South Korea and Australia to contribute to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

On February 20, 2024, KOICA’s resident officer in India and USAID's India office signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen development cooperation partnerships in India, a key country in the South Korean government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

The cooperation is intended to support the sustainable development of countries in the Indo-Pacific region through trilateral cooperation between India, the US, and South Korea. KOICA and USAIDare slated to cooperate in four sectors in India:

• Women’s economic empowerment;
• Disaster and climate resilience;
• Digital literacy; and
• Trilateral cooperation.

KOICA and USAID expressed the intention to explore new development projects in India and bolster joint projects between South Korea and the US. The two countries plan to develop a concrete cooperation plan for the empowerment of female social entrepreneurs in India to support the economic empowerment of women in India.

On September 21, 2023, South Korean President Suk-yeol Yoon stated in his keynote speech at the 78^th UN General Assembly that South Korea will greatly expand its ODA budget and pursue tailored development cooperation with partner countries in the future.

The government has expanded the ODA budget for 2024 by more than 40% compared to 2023, despite 2023's fiscal austerity policy. The ODA 2024 budget will be twice as large as South Korea's 2019 ODA budget.

Yoon highlighted educational and climate ODA as partner priorities. He added the South Korea has a prominent role in reducing digital divide with partner countries given its notable ICT and technological capacity. South Korea will host the AI Global Forum in 2024.

On May 29, 2023, President Suk-yeol Yoon hosted the 2023 Korea-Pacific Islands Summit in Seoul with Pacific Islands countries.

Participants discussed enhancing ongoing cooperation in line with South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy. They also adopted the 2023 Korea-Pacific Islands Leaders Declaration on a Partnership in Pursuit of Freedom, Peace and Prosperity for a Resilient Pacific. The declaration underscored comprehensive security cooperation in areas such as maritime, climate, energy, cyber, and health. It also highlighted South Korea's plan to double the ODA budget for Pacific Island countries to US$40 million (KRW53 billion) by 2027.

In addition, the summit organized special events addressing digital, forest, oceans and fisheries, and green growth. At the 2023 Korea International Cooperation Conference on Oceans and Fisheries, invited ministers and government officials announced a new plan for oceans and fisheries cooperation called the Korea-Ocean Economy Initiative.