- On/offline hybrid completion ceremony took place on Nov. 25 with 130 WeKO members from 26 countries 

- Supporters completed four-month-long activities to promote KOICA and ODA 

- Throughout period of activity, WeKO created plethora of diverse content including online promotional videos, campaigns, and events on metaverse, engaging participants from around the world

KOICA held an on/offline hybrid completion ceremony of the KOICA global supporters WeKO (4th generation), who actively created content to promote the agency and Korea’s development cooperation to global audiences, on Nov. 25 at the agency’s headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

WeKO, which stands for “We are KOICA,” are a group of supporters selected from Korea and abroad who act as ambassadors for KOICA. Throughout an activity period of four months since July, WeKO promoted the significance and value of development cooperation and ODA around the world.  

*ODA (Official Development Assistance): Government aid that promotes and specifically targets the economic development and welfare of developing countries (OECD)

The 4th generation of WeKO, a total of 130 people, were selected in July through a competition rate of 11:1 in the application process. They consist of 81 university students, 18 citizens, and 31 foreign nationals living both in Korea and abroad.

WeKO carried out various online promotional campaigns, including the production of photo news and video content, and offline regional missions to raise awareness on KOICA and international development cooperation.

WeKO created a total of 5,865 posts (content), which achieved 18 million instances of exposure and 11 million responses from around the world, including comments and shares. Moreover, KOICA World, a metaverse map that reflects the ideas and planning of WeKO, was utilized for various programs and events involving KOICA staff, WeKO, and the public. Some 25,000 users have logged onto KOICA World as of now.

The achievements of global WeKO stood out particularly this year. Global WeKO members visited KOICA offices in their respective countries and filmed the “We’re Here” web documentary series, which vividly introduce KOICA’s offices and development cooperation projects abroad.

Global WeKO member Naana Essilfie-Quaye visited and filmed the KOICA Office in Ghana, while Katrina Angeles Noble visited and filmed the KOICA Office in the Philippines, with the videos achieving over 157 thousand views on YouTube. In the video from Ghana, Ms. Naana Essilfie-Quaye visited the site of the kindergarten remodeling project in Teshie and learned about various development cooperation projects being implemented in Ghana from the project manager on site. In the video from Philippines, Ms. Katrina Angeles Noble met with Mr. John Arcel Orencia, who was a member of WeKO 3rd generation, and exchanged experiences.

Other global members of WeKO created video content featuring various KOICA projects in their respective countries, including in Indonesia, Philippines, and Cambodia.  

*WeKO content can be viewed at the following link – http://youtube.com/@wekokoicasupporters5016 

WeKO also carried out active campaigns offline. Photo exhibitions, promotional booths, SDGs-related events and other diverse programs planned by WeKO were held in six regions in Korea, raising awareness on KOICA and ODA among the Korean people. An Instagram campaign named “Beyond, with KOICA” spotlighted global issues that require joint solutions.

KOICA issued awards to individuals and teams that gave outstanding performances. Among domestic WeKO, one and two teams were selected respectively for the grand (award and 2 million won) and excellence (award and 1 million won) prizes. Among domestic WeKO, two and four individuals were selected for the grand (award and 1 million won) and excellence (award and 500 thousand won) prizes, respectively. Among global WeKO, one and two individuals were selected for the grand (award and 800 thousand won) and excellence (award and 300 thousand won) prizes, respectively.

Among domestic WeKO teams, the grand prize went to team KOstco, while the excellence prize went to teams We can WeKO and Weko U. Among domestic individuals, the grand prize went to Lee Ye-rin (We can WeKO) and Park Da-bin (KOrus), while the excellence prize went to Lee Yeon-ah (We can WeKO), Ahn Sae-bin (We, Komma), Lee Se-jeong (We, Komma), and Yoo Hye-eun (KOrus). Among global WeKO individuals, the grand prize went to Katrina Angeles Noble (Philippines), while the excellence prize went to Ahsan Ahmed (Bangladesh) and Merna Mohamed Fathy Abdelhamid (Egypt).

Team KOstco (Kim Su-min, Lee Ye-jin, Ju Ha-bin), which won the grand prize among domestic WeKO teams, started a creative Tiktok challenge allowing viewers to sing along to ODA.

Global grand prize winner Katrina Angeles Noble appeared in video content and actively contributed to communication on development cooperation between Korea and the Philippines.

At the completion ceremony, President of KOICA Sohn Hyuk-sang expressed deep gratitude to WeKO for their efforts to promote KOICA and Korea’s ODA to the world for the past 4 months. “As permanent friends of KOICA, we ask for WeKO’s continuous interest and support,” said President Sohn, and added that KOICA will “continue to communicate and cooperate with various development cooperation partners.”

WeKO was also awarded a commendation from the Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination for their merit in development cooperation. The commendation goes to government officials or public organizations that have contributed to achievements and outstanding projects in the area of international development cooperation.

Photo 1. WeKO participate in the completion ceremony of the 4th WeKO at KOICA’s headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on Nov. 25.

Photo 2. WeKO members and KOICA staff participate in the completion ceremony of the 4th WeKO at KOICA’s headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on Nov. 25.

Photo 3. President of KOICA Sohn Hyuk-sang delivers congratulatory remarks at the completion ceremony of the 4th WeKO at KOICA’s headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on Nov. 25.