The Republic of Korea became the first among developing countries after the WWII to have transformed itself from a recipient to a donor country by joining the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2010. Korea’s ODA contribution marked 1.3 billion dollars in 2011, which was 0.12% of its GNI. Although the contribution level is still low to meet the international standards, it has been rapidly expanded during recent years and is expected to keep growing.

In the process of developing ODA policies, continued debates arose in Korea regarding the need for establishing a proper Korean ODA model in response to the rising ODA contribution. Reflecting on such debates and recent changes in the domestic and international economic environment, this research was undertaken in order to help establishing comprehensive ODA strategies by selecting and focusing on areas in which Korea has comparative advantages

Formulation of ODA Contents and Strategies based on Korea’s comparative advantages

This research consists of aggregated and articulated ODA contents that lie within Korea's development experience and relative competitiveness. The research was undertaken under the supervision of the "Korean ODA Model Task Force" of the Prime Minister's Office of Korea. It was directed and managed by Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET), with co-assistance from Korea Development Institute (KDI) and Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP).

Numbers of experts from 18 organizations, including government-sponsored research institutes under the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities Social Science (NRCS) and other organizations such as Seoul National University and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), etc, participated in this research project. The research covered 11 sectors categorized under the 4 areas of Economic development, Social development, Governance, and Future issues. Based on the middle range package programs extracted by expert groups of each sector, the Prime Minister's Office and three managerial research institutes, which are KIET, KDI and KIEP, formulated a program pool of 159 programs that are identified as compatible as the Korean ODA model. Among these programs, 40 basic programs were finally identified.

Then, KIET, KDI, and KIEP conducted the research together and made policy suggestions for implementing strategies of the Korean ODA model. The final results of the research are documented into four volumes; one general introduction and summary report by the three managerial institutes and three separate-volumes consisting of the research results of 18 institutes. Based on these reports, the Committee for International Development Cooperation (CIDC), which is the supreme ODA policy-making apparatus of the Korean government, adopted the “Korean ODA Model” in her 13th meeting held on September 14, 2012.

This research marks its significance by establishing the first comprehensive Korean ODA model which had previously been lacking substantial content despite continued debates. However, this research does not signify the final conclusion of the Korean ODA model; the Korean ODA model should be continuously enhanced through vigorous modification, supplementation and expansion reflecting the development of the Korean ODA itself and the changing environment of international society.

Finally, for the implementation of selected programs, it should be kept in mind by the ODA implementing agencies, including KOICA and EDCF, that each project should be built upon the details of unique circumstances in each recipient country and international recommendations. Also, it should be noted that result-based management and monitoring of the project is always important.