▲ KOICA is implementing cultural ODA through various activities, including taekwondo and Korean language education, with a focus on developing countries. The photo shows local children participating in a class where they create the Korean national flag and hanbok during activities of the 5th Uzbekistan Project Volunteer Group held this year. Siem Reap, Cambodia. On one side of the Angkor archaeological site, local technicians are carefully reassembling collapsed stones, one by one. This is the site of the Preah Pithu Temple Conservation and Restoration Project, jointly promoted by KOICA and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation. This project is not merely about restoring a ruined temple. The Cambodian technicians who have mastered restoration techniques alongside Korean experts are building the capacity to independently preserve their own cultural heritage through local technical training and invitational training programs. Reframing cultural ODA strategies with a focus on partner countries Helping partner countries foster sustainable development based on their own culture, rather than merely building cultural facilities or introducing Korean culture, is the direction pursued by Korea s Cultural ODA. Culture serves as the foundation that reflects a nation s identity, while also functioning as a resource that can drive economic and social development. For this reason, understanding and respecting the culture of partner countries is regarded as a crucial factor in enhancing the effectiveness of development cooperation projects. There are two key background factors behind Korea s focus on cultural ODA. One is the global spread of Korean culture, or K-culture, which has gained international popularity, strengthened Korea s soft power, and expanded the potential for culture-based cooperation in development cooperation as well. The other is experience. Korea is a country that has been nurturing its cultural industries since the late 1990s, recognizing the economic value of culture. This experience is a practical asset that can be shared with partner countries. It is in this context that the government has designated the cultural sector as a core area of grant aid. Culture has become important not only as an independent field of development cooperation but also as a means of enhancing outcomes in other sectors. The core of cultural ODA lies in respecting the history, traditions, values, and unique cultural identities of partner countries. It focuses on helping more people access and enjoy culture, building the foundation of cultural and creative industries, and supporting the preservation and use of cultural heritage. It is closer to enabling partner countries to shape their own futures through their own cultures, rather than simply delivering Korean culture. While Korea s cultural ODA has been pursued through various agencies, it has faced limitations due to small-scale projects being scattered across multiple locations. In response, the government has decided to pursue cultural ODA more strategically by identifying projects tailored to the needs of partner countries, linking multiple projects into unified programs, and strengthening public private partnerships. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Strategy for Cultural ODA in Grant Aid was developed with this awareness. Under the vision of Investing in Enhancing the Diversity and Creative Innovation Capacity of Future Generations, the ministry set Improving Access to Culture for Youth and Strengthening Innovation Capacity in Cultural and Creative Industries as its strategic objective. The core fields are cultural and arts education and cultural infrastructure; institutional reform and talent development in the cultural and creative industries; and the protection of cultural and natural heritage, along with the establishment of a sustainable tourism ecosystem. This means creating a foundation where young people in partner countries can more easily access culture, engage in creative activities, and connect those experiences to industries and jobs. The government-wide Development Cooperation Strategy in the Cultural Sector takes an even broader approach. With the goal of realizing cultural values centered on partner countries and creating a sustainable, mutually beneficial ecosystem for cultural cooperation, it sets out several key tasks. These include building the foundation for cultural and artistic development, supporting cultural and creative industries, implementing lifestyle-oriented, introducing ODA+(which integrates cultural elements into existing projects), protecting cultural heritage alongside tourism development, and expanding multi-stakeholder partnerships. A distinguishing feature is that it does not limit cultural ODA to culture and the arts or cultural heritage, but also encompasses lifestyle, sports, and language education. While the two aforementioned strategies present a government-wide direction, KOICA proposes an implementation plan focused on translating these strategies into field-level projects, drawing on its strengths and expertise in Korea s core cultural ODA sectors. As intermediate objectives to achieve the strategic goals of the Korean government s Strategy for Cultural ODA in Grant Aid, KOICA has established three core initiatives: revitalizing cultural and creative industries, expanding the value of cultural and natural heritage, and building sustainable tourism ecosystems. ▲ Since 2014, KOICA has been working with UNESCO on projects for the digitization, archival development, and preservation of records at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Cultural cooperation expanding into content, tourism, and heritage The revitalization of cultural and creative industries is reflected in the overseas volunteer program. Long before the term K-culture became widely used, KOICA had already been consistently dispatching volunteers to teach Korean culinary arts, Taekwondo, and the Korean language. Since last year, a project volunteer group has also been dispatched to Uzbekistan to conduct Korean language education and continue people-to-people exchanges. This approach allows local youth and residents to learn from one another and engage through language, food, and sports. In the field of expanding the value of cultural and natural heritage, the Cambodia project is a prime example. The Preah Pithu Temple Conservation and Restoration Project, which began in 2015, later led to that of the Terrace of the Elephants. Moving beyond mere monument restoration, it is now strengthening Cambodia s capacity to preserve and manage its cultural heritage through local technical training and invitational training programs. Furthermore, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum project demonstrates that the significance of cultural heritage preservation extends beyond physical restoration. Since 2014, KOICA has been working in partnership with UNESCO to digitize Khmer Rouge records and build a comprehensive archive. This project represents technical cooperation to preserve fragile records, while also helping future generations confront and understand the painful legacy of Cambodia s modern history. Preserving a nation s historical memory, identity, and the value of peace is also a crucial direction in which cultural ODA is expanding. ▲ In 2011, KOICA supported the establishment of a sustainable tourism ecosystem by developing the Huong River waterfront area in Hue, Vietnam. The photo shows local residents walking along the Huong River pedestrian deck. A prime example of building a sustainable tourism ecosystem is Hue, Vietnam. As the capital of Vietnam s last dynasty, the Nguyen Dynasty, the city possesses rich cultural and natural tourism resources, including the Imperial Citadel and the Huong River. Starting with the establishment of an urban development master plan in 2011, KOICA has progressively continued its projects to include the refurbishment of the Huong River waterfront area, the creation of a cultural tourism database and smart streets, and the development of a cultural complex and pedestrian bridge on Da Vien Island. The Hue City project demonstrates the direction of cultural ODA by linking cultural tourism resources to urban development and regional economic revitalization. At the center of cultural ODA are the cultures and people of partner countries. Korea s experience in developing its cultural industries and KOICA s expertise in development cooperation are utilized to help partner countries design their own futures based on their own stories and heritage. This is why cultural ODA is gaining attention as a new channel of development cooperation, moving beyond simple cultural introduction.
It s a sweltering yet vibrant summer. KOICA, too, with great enthusiasm, is advancing sustainable development cooperation around the world across a wide range of fields, from digital governance innovation and cybersecurity to marine environmental protection, youth entrepreneurship, and disaster response. Domestically, KOICA continued to identify innovative ideas leveraging public data while strengthening the agency s transparency and professional expertise. Here are highlights of KOICA s recent activities at home and abroad, including in Tunisia, the Philippines, Palestine, and Laos. 📰 NEWS 1. Five Public Administration Information Systems for Industrial Property Rights launched in Tunisia ▲ On June 19, employees of Tunisia s INNORPI received training on the use of the Public Administration Information System for Industrial Property Rights, developed through a KOICA ODA project. Korea s expertise in digital public services is driving administrative innovation in Tunisia s intellectual property sector. On June 24, KOICA, in partnership with Tunisia s National Institute for Standardization and Industrial Property (INNORPI), held a launch ceremony in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, for the Public Administration Information System for Industrial Property Rights. This system was established through an ODA project jointly implemented by KOICA and the Korea Institute of Patent Information (KIPI) beginning in 2022. With this system, Tunisia has laid the foundation for the digital transformation of the entire administrative process for patents, trademarks, and industrial designs, which had previously been handled manually. As a result, the system enables faster and more transparent processing of the growing volume of intellectual property applications. It consists of five core modules: document digitization, a prior art search system for examiners, and an online portal for filing applications, registration, and renewals. A public search system and an internal administrative support system were also established. Previously, application and examination procedures relied entirely on paper-based documentation. By digitizing the entire workflow from application submission and prior art searches to examination and notification the new system is expected to reduce administrative processing time by approximately 25%. 📰 NEWS 2. KOICA strengthens development cooperation with the Philippines in the digital and environmental sectors ▲ On June 29, Director Lee (fourth from the left) and key officials pose for a commemorative photo at the kick-off ceremony for the Project for Establishing the National Cyber Security Center to Strengthen the Philippines Cyber Crisis Response Capacity, held at the Valenzuela Campus in the Philippines. Lee Yun-young, KOICA s director of Office of Development Strategy and Asia-Pacific, visited the Philippines from June 29 to July 1 to inspect project sites for digital transformation and environmental cooperation initiatives. On June 29, he attended the kick-off ceremony in Valenzuela City for the "Establishment of a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Rapid Response System and National Cybersecurity Center, Sustainable Cyber Incident Management Capacity Building." KOICA will establish two Korean-style National Cyber Security Centers and support the development of a 24/7 cyber monitoring system, along with the training of cybersecurity professionals. As KOICA s largest cybersecurity project to date, it is expected to make a significant contribution to strengthening the Philippines cyber resilience.On June 30, Director Lee took part in the handover ceremony for the marine litter collection vessel MV Nilad and the MOU signing ceremony at Pier 15 in Manila Bay. Built by a Korean shipbuilder, the 101-ton MV Nilad is approximately 50 times larger than the 2-ton harbor cleaning vessel previously operated by the Philippine government. It will be used to collect marine debris in Manila Bay, including household waste and abandoned fishing gear. Built under KOICA s first Marine Litter Cleanup Vessel Support Project, the MV Nilad is expected to strengthen the Philippines capacity for marine waste management while further enhancing bilateral cooperation in the maritime sector. 📰 NEWS 3. Palestine paves the Korea Street to recovery ▲ On July 8, the sign for "Korea Street" was erected in the center of Bethlehem in the West Bank, Palestine. A Startup Hub Center, to be established under KOICA s new ODA project, is also scheduled to be built near Korea Street. The Korean government is launching new development cooperation projects in the West Bank, Palestine, to support youth entrepreneurship and disaster response. On July 8, KOICA signed Record of Discussions with the Palestinian government in Bethlehem for two separate projects. The targeted projects are the "Bethlehem Startup Hub Development Project (2026 2032)" and the "Project to Enhance Crisis and Disaster Response Capacity in Palestine (2026 2030)." The Startup Hub will provide young entrepreneurs and local startups with digital innovation training, incubation space, and tailored business support. Through these efforts, the projects aim to create employment opportunities for young people and help revitalize the local economy. The disaster response project will provide equipment to conflict-affected areas such as Jenin and Jericho while strengthening the capacity and expertise of firefighting personnel. Meanwhile, as a token of appreciation for the Korean government s solidarity and support, the City of Bethlehem designated a street near the Church of the Nativity as "Korea Street." The KOICA-supported Startup Hub Center is also scheduled to be built along this street. Hanna Samir Hanania, mayor of Bethlehem, said, "'Korea Street' symbolizes the gratitude and friendship of the people of Bethlehem." 📰 NEWS 4. KOICA hosts the 2026 KOICA Public Data Utilization Challenge ▲ Winners pose for a group photo at the presentation evaluation and award ceremony for the 2026 KOICA Public Data Utilization Challenge, held on July 9 at KOICA headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do. KOICA successfully held the 2026 KOICA Public Data Utilization Challenge. Now in its second year, the competition is designed to identify innovative digital services and data-driven solutions that leverage KOICA s public data. At the final presentation and evaluation held on July 9, Team DayWay s Eval2Action won the Grand Prize. Eval2Action is a solution that analyzes final evaluation reports and performance indicator data from similar ODA projects to automatically generate checklists for identifying and assessing project risk factors. The Excellence Awards were presented to Team 0514_Lab for "HealthODA Insight", a solution that analyzes the demand for and current status of healthcare ODA support, and to Team KBL for "ODA-itda", a solution that analyzes local trends in partner countries and corporate demand to recommend suitable countries and sectors for ODA engagement. The Grand Prize winner received a certificate and a cash prize of KRW 3 million, while each of the two Excellence Award winners received a certificate and a cash prize of KRW 1 million. KOICA plans to apply the ideas generated through the contest to advance AI-powered and data-driven business innovation. 📰 NEWS 5. Jang Il-hyeok appointed as new auditor▲ Newly appointed auditorJang Il-hyeok On July 8, KOICA appointed Jang Il-hyeok as its new auditor. Born in 1961, Auditor Jang is a legal expert who graduated from the Department of Law at Korea University and has had a distinguished judicial career, serving as Chief Judge of the Jecheon Branch of the Cheongju District Court and as a Presiding Judge of the Incheon District Court before being appointed Presiding Judge of the Seoul Central District Court in 2015. Auditor Jang is expected to strengthen the organization s internal control and audit functions. He will also be tasked with enhancing transparency and integrity across its overall management by drawing on his extensive legal expertise and experience.📰 NEWS 6. First Project Steering Committee Meeting held for the Project to Improve the Livestock Product Safety Management System in Laos▲ On July 22, KOICA held the first Project Steering Committee meeting for the Project to Improve the Livestock Product Safety Management System in Laos (2024 2029), with the participation of representatives from the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, the Department of Planning and Cooperation of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Departments of Agriculture and Environment of Vientiane Capital and Vientiane Province. On July 22, KOICA, in partnership with the Hankyong National University Consortium, held the first Project Steering Committee meeting for the "Project to Improve the Livestock Product Safety Management System in Laos (2024 2029)" in Vientiane, Laos. Kikeo Singnavong, deputy minister of Agriculture and Environment of Laos, and Oh Sung-soo, country director of the KOICA Laos Office, co-chaired the meeting. Participants included representatives from the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, the Department of Planning and Cooperation of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Departments of Agriculture and Environment of Vientiane Capital and Vientiane Province, and the Hankyong National University Consortium. During the meeting, participants shared detailed project plans, progress to date, key deliverables, and implementation plans for the period from the second half of 2026 through the first half of 2027. Sector-specific plans covering feed, farms, and slaughterhouses were presented by the deputy director general of the Lao Department of Livestock and Fisheries. Deputy Minister Kikeo Singnavong pledged his full support, saying, "Livestock product safety management is the foundation of public health and the sustainable development of the livestock industry." This project aims to strengthen the safety management system across the entire production process of livestock products, including: improving systems related to feed, farms, and slaughterhouses, enhancing feed and livestock product quality analysis capabilities, and providing sanitation management training for farms and slaughterhouses. The project is also providing analytical laboratory reagents and equipment, dispatching and training analysis experts, and conducting invitational training in Korea.
The 2026 UNFCCC Climate Week was held from April 21 to 25 at the Yeosu Expo Convention Center. It is a major international event held annually ahead of the Conference of the Parties, bringing together governments, businesses, and civil society organizations from around the world to discuss ways to accelerate climate action. As part of the Climate Future Partnership (2024 2027), KOICA, in collaboration with the UNFCCC Secretariat, held an official Climate Week session on April 23 under the theme Leveraging AI for Climate Action in Developing Countries. At the official session, representatives from governments and development cooperation agencies, AI experts, and climate tech startup officials gathered to share innovative examples of AI-driven climate action in developing countries and explore various avenues for cooperation to bridge the climate gap.▲ A scene from the 2026 UNFCCC Climate Week held in Yeosu. Participants gathered at the official session, Leveraging AI for Climate Action in Developing Countries, co-hosted by KOICA and the UNFCCC Secretariat. TEC to Lead the Implementation of Responsible AI Solutions In its report Governing AI for Humanity, published in September 2024, the U.N. highlighted AI as a tool for addressing shared challenges for humanity and emphasized the need for international cooperation. In response, the UNFCCC officially endorsed the AI4ClimateAction initiative as a platform for cooperation in leveraging AI to address climate change at the Conference of the Parties held in 2023. The following year, KOICA entered into the Climate Future Partnership with the UNFCCC and has since served as a key partner of the initiative. The official Climate Week session on April 23 at the Grand Hall of the Yeosu Expo Convention Center, themed Leveraging AI for Climate Action in Developing Countries, continued discussions on bridging the AI technology gap between developed and developing countries. AI is a practical and powerful tool for climate action, but it is not something that everyone can easily access and utilize, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Noura Hamladji said in her opening remarks. Close coordination and collaboration from the international community are needed to prevent the gap between developing countries with limited AI accessibility in terms of data, infrastructure, and other resources and developed nations from widening further. In his keynote address, Lee Yun-young, director of KOICA s Office of Development Strategy and Asia-Pacific, referenced SAFIR, an AI-based agricultural and irrigation solution developed by the Integrated Watershed Management Institute (IWMI), which won the top prize at last year s international AI technology competition, the AI for Climate Action Award 2025 (AICA Award 2025). Lee emphasized that empowering partner countries and strengthening the independent capacity of local technology experts are at the core of a sustainable partnership.Pedro Ivo Ferraz da Silva, chair of the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee (TEC), introduced the AI Initiative for Climate Action under the UNFCCC technology mechanism and presented the activities of the TEC at the session. Ferraz da Silva introduced AI-based climate modeling research outcomes alongside case studies on drought and flood prediction using satellite data and machine learning, and explained how AI can contribute to agricultural optimization and food security, resonating with the audience. It is more important than ever to generate tangible impact through innovation, he said. We will ensure the implementation of responsible AI solutions is carried through. ▲ 1 UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Noura Hamladji emphasized the need for stronger and closer multilateral cooperation within the international community during her opening remarks. 2 In his keynote address, KOICA Director Lee Yun-young said, We will contribute to building AI iframeworks by sharing Korea s AI Basic Act and the diverse experiences the country has accumulated thus far with partner countries. AI: A New Paradigm for Addressing the Climate CrisisFollowing the opening ceremony, two discussion sessions were held. The first session, themed AI for Climate Action: Solutions Across Diverse Sectors, began with the participation of AI innovators and representatives from global corporations, international organizations, and startups. Jo Yu-ri, senior researcher at Seoul National University, served as the moderator. Alisa Luangrath, leader of the International Cooperation Team at IWMI and the first presenter of the session, elaborated on real-world applications of SAFIR, a standout case from the AICA Award 2025. Luangrath noted that while 70% of Laos population is engaged in agriculture, less than 50% actually utilize irrigation facilities, and highlighted the real-world challenges brought on by the climate crisis, including fluctuations in rainfall due to climate change despite conditions suitable for double cropping, difficulties in cultivating field crops, and the inability to use irrigation facilities for three to four months during the dry season. She went on to explain that the solution was developed with goals extending beyond hardware to the development of software-related skills, including establishing irrigation infrastructure through SAFIR, addressing the lack of decision-making iframeworks, and strengthening the management capacity of village organizations to effectively operate SAFIR. ▲ Alisa Luangrath, leader of the International Cooperation Team at IWMI, who claimed the top prize at the 'AICA Award 2025' with 'SAFIR,' an AI-based smart agriculture solution optimized for Laos, is presenting real-world cases of SAFIR's application in Laos through KOICA's pilot project.Lee Ju-hee, team leader at VERYWORDS, an e-mobility-based carbon neutrality platform company established in 2017, took the floor as a presenter. Lee said the company began selling electric motorcycles in Cambodia in 2025 and projected that it would reduce at least 680,000 tons and up to 5.88 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. With support from KOICA, VERYWORDS established Cambodia s first electric motorcycle manufacturing facility at the Kien Svay Industrial Complex, approximately 20 km from Phnom Penh, and is leading the e-mobility market by lowering electric motorcycle prices through a subscription-based battery model, among other initiatives. The company is also applying AI technology to battery diagnostics and the development of user safety guidelines.Andreas Galatoulas, data & AI lead at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), presented a case study on Ecuador's early warning system, while Yoon Seok-won, CEO of AIWORKX, delivered a presentation titled "AI-Based Climate Response Solutions and Strategies for Application in Developing Countries." Yoon, who emphasized that "AI is not merely a technology but a new paradigm for addressing the climate crisis," proposed lightweight AI models and cloud-based platforms as solutions to overcome the data shortages and infrastructure gaps faced by developing countries. He also introduced projects that leverage AI in the agricultural sector to analyze soil and climate data, helping reduce damage from droughts and floods while improving productivity. In addition, he shared various case studies, including AI solutions for optimizing urban power grids and reducing carbon emissions in the field of energy management. Yoon also offered policy recommendations, emphasizing the need to develop customized AI models tailored to the needs of developing countries and calling for the establishment of international norms to address AI ethics issues, including data privacy and algorithmic transparency.▲ The moderator and presenters of the first session, which featured presentations and discussions on AI-driven solutions across various sectors, pose for a commemorative photo. The second session, moderated by DI Lab CTO Choi Ye-ji, brought together representatives from international organizations, developing countries, and donor agencies to discuss collaborative approaches under the theme, "Bridging the Gap: Demand Response and the Scaling of AI Use for Climate Action." The session also featured lively discussions on ways to narrow the AI divide between developed and developing countries.Tomoko Furusawa, head of the Partnership and Liaison Office at the Climate Technology Centre and Network, opened the session as the first presenter. The reality in developing countries is that the lack of climate-related data makes it difficult to train AI models," she said. International data-sharing platforms and standardized data management iframeworks are needed to address this challenge." She further stressed that narrowing the AI utilization gap requires developed countries and international organizations to strengthen the AI capabilities of developing nations through data, technology, and financial support. She also emphasized that, beyond simply providing AI solutions, the training of local experts and the development of technological infrastructure must go hand in hand, reiterating her view that "AI is not a technology exclusive to developed countries, but a global asset to be shared by all humanity."▲ Gyungah Kim, manager of Climate and Economic Development Team, deputy director of the Climate, Environment and Economic Development Team at KOICA, speaks on the need to strengthen the climate response capacity of developing countries through collaboration among diverse stakeholders, noting that AI-based climate action has moved beyond the stage of potential and entered the phase of practical implementation. Speaking as the second presenter, Kim Kyeong-a, deputy director of the Climate, Environment and Economic Development Team at KOICA, stressed that "'AI for Climate' cannot be separated from 'AI for Development,' making locally driven capacity building rather than simple technology transfer essential." She further noted that "this aligns closely with the Korean government's vision of a 'Global AI Basic Society,' which holds that the benefits of AI should reach all nations and communities as a universal public good." Kim went on to propose that, given the reality that 75 to 83 percent of field sites in Africa and Latin America rate AI infrastructure as poor and 50 to 60 percent report data quality as inadequate, a phased financing model is essential one that uses ODA grant aid to support initial proof-of-concept costs while linking performance-based public-private partnerships and bridging finance to achieve commercial sustainability. She further emphasized that only through collaboration among all stakeholders including governments, local communities, the private sector, development partners, and research institutions can AI become a truly practical tool for countries on the frontlines of the climate crisis.Ehtel Namuri, ICT manager at the Climate Change Development Authority of Papua New Guinea, who participated remotely via video, likewise emphasized that "AI is a practical tool for the survival and sustainability of developing countries." She also underscored that AI must not remain confined to prediction alone but should be closely integrated with real-world response systems. Namuri underlined that, while conventional climate models have long faced significant uncertainty due to data shortages, AI can integrate satellite imagery, meteorological observations, and local sensor data to predict the likelihood of floods, droughts, and typhoons with greater accuracy. The official side event, "Leveraging AI for Climate Action in Developing Countries," co-hosted by KOICA and the UNFCCC, concluded after more than four hours of lively discussion and public deliberation. The sessions were enriched by the diverse perspectives of the presenters and the showcase of AI-driven solutions for climate action. Participants unanimously agreed that AI is a core tool for climate response and that international support spanning technology, infrastructure, education, policy, and cooperation is essential to bridge the gap between developed and developing countries and enable the effective use of AI. They also shared a common commitment to moving beyond discussion and toward the accelerated implementation of AI-driven climate action.
2026.06.04
Jung Seung-pil, coordinator at the KOICA Rwanda Office, received an unexpected but welcome call one day. He was asked by his favorite travel YouTuber, Pani Bottle, whether he could visit and explore the village in Rwanda that Jung manages. What a surprise! Let s hear Jung s story about how excited he was after receiving the call so excited that he couldn t sleep at night.▲ Jung Seung-pil, Coordinator at the KOICA Rwanda Office, watching a football match in Rwanda Q Please introduce yourself. I am Jung Seung-pil, a coordinator at the KOICA Rwanda Office. I was placed here in October 2024 and have been working here for about one year and eight months so far. I oversee projects in the agricultural and transportation sectors, as well as training programs. Working in the attractive country of Rwanda, I have been enjoying a fulfilling and rewarding overseas assignment in collaboration with both Korean and local staff members.▲ Pani Bottle (left) and Coordinator Jung Seung-pil visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial.Q The KOICA Rwanda Office and its project sites appeared on the channel of travel YouTuber Pani Bottle. Please tell us about the story behind it. Thankfully, Pani Bottle reached out to KOICA, expressing his wish to film the Saemaul Undong project sites in Rwanda. He came across posts in the community he runs about how Korea s Saemaul Undong is being successfully implemented in Rwanda and found them interesting. It seems that he reached out to KOICA because he wanted to see firsthand how Korea s development experience is being implemented in Africa, even though he does not belong to the Saemaul Undong generation. The filming took place in Mushimba Village, located in Kamonyi District in Rwanda s Southern Province, where the Saemaul Foundation has been carrying out a pilot village project since 2010. From 2013 onward, KOICA has played an important role in the project by continuously dispatching Saemaul volunteers to the area. The Saemaul Foundation has been carrying out its project across a total of four pilot villages, including Mushimba, Kigarama, Gihogwe, and Gasharo Raro. Mushimba Village was selected as the filming location in particular because it has been highly regarded for its outstanding resident participation and the operational capacity of its Saemaul Committee. ▲ A weekly meeting held at the Saemaul Community Hall in Mushimba Village.Q Please tell us more about Mushimba Village. Other KOICA agricultural projects in Rwanda involve relatively large budgets averaging more than approximately $8 million, with a significant portion of those funds allocated to infrastructure development such as land leveling and irrigation facilities, including wetland and hillside development. Nevertheless, Rwanda is known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, with most of its terrain consisting of mountainous areas, making its agricultural conditions relatively poor compared to those of other countries. Despite these challenging circumstances, Mushimba Village in Kamonyi District is considered a representative case of achieving significant change with a comparatively small project budget. What is particularly impressive is that the three core elements of Korea s Saemaul Undong income generation, environmental improvement, and mindset change were achieved in a balanced manner, leading to real changes in the lives of residents. The most distinctive feature of the Mushimba Village project is that it demonstrates how meaningful improvements in people s lives can be achieved through community capacity building, rather than through a project focused solely on physical infrastructure. It is highly significant in that the residents themselves become the agents of change and actively participate in the process of sustainable development. I believe this approach also carries important implications for the performance management and impact assessment iframework that KOICA has been emphasizing in recent years.Q During the filming, you also visited places created through past projects, such as the Saemaul Community Hall, kindergarten, and facilities near the market stalls. How have these facilities been utilized up to the present? In the case of Mushimba Village, various infrastructure facilities, such as a Saemaul Community Hall, kindergarten, market stalls, and warehouses, were established over approximately five years of project implementation beginning in 2010. In general, facilities supported through infrastructure assistance projects are often transferred to local governments or recipient ministries upon project completion, often leading to a decline in utilization afterward due to inadequate management. However, based on field monitoring and interviews conducted in Mushimba Village, the facilities that were provided more than a decade ago are still being actively utilized to this day. The Saemaul Community Hall has been consistently used as a venue for biweekly village committee meetings and major community consultations. The kindergarten has also steadily increased its enrollment and established itself as one of the leading kindergartens in the area. In addition, the market stalls located near the road have been operating successfully on a daily basis as a space where residents sell their locally produced agricultural products at affordable prices.In particular, as shown in the video, the clothes and bags used by the kindergarten children were made by village women who received sewing training during the previous Saemaul project. This demonstrated that the outcomes of the project continue to be naturally reflected in the residents everyday lives. ▲ KOICA Coordinator Jung Seung-pil taking a taking a photo photo with a child from the Saemaul kindergarten at a market stallQ You said you re a huge fan of Pani Bottle. How did you feel when you were asked to work with him? I am such a devoted fan of Pani Bottle that virtually everyone around me knows it. So when I heard that a collaboration request from him had come through KOICA, my first thoughts were, I ve used up all my luck for this year, and They say three great opportunities come in a lifetime this must be one of them. As it happened, I was on a short vacation in Korea at the time, and from the moment I received the news, I was already excited on the flight back to the office. While preparing for the preliminary meeting, I carefully thought about what Pani Bottle would enjoy, and before going to sleep, I would rewatch his videos, imagining the filming scenes in Rwanda and mentally rehearsing them. Q Were there any particular scenes that Pani Bottle showed special interest in during the field visit? Being a travel YouTuber, it seemed that Pani Bottle was more interested in moments that viewers could relate to and find entertaining rather than in the detailed aspects of the project itself. For example, I remember a moment during a car ride when he noticed the village chief talking on the phone and immediately rushed to turn on his camera, saying that the chief s tone of voice and manner of speaking were exactly like those of a Korean village chief. He also found it amusing that the colors of the clothes and bags worn by the children on their way to kindergarten resembled the colors of the Saemaul flag. While filming these moments, it seemed that Pani Bottle intentionally raised his voice to liven up the atmosphere. I also remember him mentioning that Korean viewers in their 20s and 30s who watch the video would likely develop a genuine interest in the international development cooperation activities promoted by KOICA.▲ Coordinator Jung Seung-pil taking a commemorative photo with Pani Bottle (left)Q As the project coordinator, what did you most want to showcase during the filming? Personally, I had hoped to invite Pani Bottle to stay overnight at the village community hall or a resident s home and create content where we could cook and share meals together using locally harvested agricultural products. I had also planned content ideas such as Spending a Day Following the Village Chief and Experiencing Life as the Village Chief s Manager for a Day. Having regularly watched Pani Bottle s videos, I felt there was not much content showcasing the daily lives of rural African villages, and I was convinced that such a video would definitely draw at least 2 million views. It was truly unfortunate that the idea could not be carried out due to local conditions. Nevertheless, it was a meaningful experience in that the filming allowed us to convey the authentic look and atmosphere of a rural village in Rwanda, if only for a brief moment.▲ Pani Bottle, Coordinator Jung Seung-pil, and KOICA Rwanda Office staff taking a group photo at the office ▲ Saemaul kindergarten children of Mushimba VillageQ Through this video, how would you like viewers to perceive the rural communities of Rwanda and KOICA s rural development projects?More than anything, I hope viewers will see the scenes captured in the video as they are. While the Saemaul Undong is sometimes interpreted within a political context in South Korea, it is also undeniably an important experience in which rural residents worked together with the government to create meaningful change. I hope that rural development projects in Rwanda and other developing countries will be viewed not through a particular ideology or iframework, but with attention to the kinds of changes residents are creating on the ground. Ultimately, what matters is not the name of the project, but the kind of change it brings to people s lives. I would like to express my gratitude to Pani Bottle, his manager, and his editor for beautifully capturing the various aspects of KOICA and Rwanda in the video. In particular, when KOICA s field support was mentioned at the end of the video, I felt all the worries I had during the preparation instantly melt away. * Scan the QR code below to watch Pani Bottle s YouTube video featuring Mushimba Village.
2026.06.04
In May, the Month of Families, when the spirit of caring for one another grows stronger, KOICA also expanded the bonds of cooperation across the world. KOICA held an information session in Seoul for young people aspiring to pursue careers in international organizations and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Colombia to expand triangular cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Pakistan, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for an industrial textile center, marking the full-scale launch of industrial cooperation between Korea and Pakistan. Additionally, KOICA conducted a joint tourism training program with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in Tajikistan. And in Somalia, KOICA partnered with LG Electronics and the UNDP to establish a technology training hub for youth. 📰 NEWS 1. 2026 KOICA International Organizations Career Information Session Held ▲ A scene from the 2026 KOICA International Organizations Career Information Session held on May 7 at Community House Masil in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. On May 7, KOICA held the 2026 KOICA International Organizations Career Information Session at Community House Masil in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Organized to provide practical information and field experience for young people aspiring to work in international organizations, the session featured representatives from 10 major international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). They shared job-seeking strategies and field-based experiences. The information session was divided into two concurrent sessions. Session 1 introduced how to participate in the KOICA-UNV University Volunteer Corps and the Korean Multilateral Cooperation Officer (KMCO) program, two flagship pathways for building careers in international organizations. Session 2 offered details on the recruitment system for Korean talent in KOICA-related international organization projects, targeting returnees who had previously participated in these programs. For the first time this year, a Homecoming Day was held concurrently for UNV University Volunteers and KMCO participants, featuring experience-sharing and networking programs for returning participants. 📰 NEWS 2. MOU with Colombia s Development Cooperation Agency to Establish a Trilateral Cooperation Hub ▲ Kim Myung-jin, director of KOICA s Strategic Partnerships Team/ 수정완료 (right), and Alexandra Ised Palencia Garnica, director general of APC-Colombia (left), signed an inter-agency MOU for the establishment of the Latin America and the Caribbean: Korea-Colombia Triangular Cooperation Hub at Altar de la Patria Square in Santa Marta, Colombia, on May 6 (local time). On May 6 (local time), KOICA signed an inter-agency MOU with APC Colombia to establish the Latin America and Caribbean: Korea-Colombia Trilateral Cooperation Hub. This agreement was designed to establish a foundation for jointly implementing projects in third countries across Latin America and the Caribbean by leveraging the development cooperation experience and expertise of both Korea and Colombia. The key areas of cooperation include ▲digital governance, ▲climate and environment, ▲industry, innovation, and startups, and ▲agriculture and regional development. The two organizations will collaborate by jointly providing technical and financial support based on their respective expertise, and plan to jointly identify, coordinate, and implement programs centered on priority areas. As a result of this cooperation, KOICA will explore ways to apply triangular cooperation in the process of identifying existing project initiatives and new training programs, and plans to continuously expand collaborative projects through consultations with the Colombian Presidential Agency of International Cooperation (APC-Colombia). 📰 NEWS 3. Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Korea-Pakistan Technical Textile Center at the National Textile University of Pakistan ▲ At the groundbreaking ceremony for the Korea Pakistan Industrial Textile Center, held on May 14 (local time) at the National Textile University in Faisalabad, Pakistan, a representative of the local construction company submits a safety declaration to Yeon Je-ho, KOICA country director for Pakistan (third from left), and Rashid Masood, rector of the National Textile University (second from left). KOICA held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Korea Pakistan Textile Center (PKTC) at the National Textile University (NTU) in Faisalabad, Pakistan, on May 14 (local time). KOICA is implementing the Project for Establishment of Technical Textile Center at National Textile University in Pakistan(phase2) from 2022 to 2028, with a total budget of $7.95 million, to support the advancement and self-sufficiency of Pakistan s textile industry. Pakistan s textile industry accounts for more than half of the country s exports but has struggled to transition into industrial textiles due to intensifying global competition and a lack of research and development (R&D) infrastructure. The industrial textile center, whose construction has now begun, will be a two-story facility equipped with laboratory and lecture spaces, as well as composite nonwoven fabric manufacturing equipment, and will serve both research and training functions. Through this initiative, the center is expected to establish foundation for technical textile research and development and contribute to the training of skilled professionals. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Yeon Je-ho, KOICA country director for Pakistan, and Rashid Masood, rector of the National Textile University of Pakistan, among others, as they expressed their commitment to industrial cooperation between the two countries. 📰 NEWS 4. Joint Training Program Conducted with TİKA ▲ Participants engage in a hands-on Korean cooking session during a joint training program co-hosted by KOICA and TİKA at the National University of Tourism in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, on May 15 (local time). KOICA and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) jointly conducted a training program titled "Modern Approaches to Tourism Education" at the National University of Tourism in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from May 12 to 16 (local time). The training program was organized to support the development of a foundation for the tourism industry in Tajikistan, a country with significant tourism growth potential. As part of the program, KOICA introduced Korea s tourism development experience, the latest trends in the tourism sector, and case studies in tourism education. Participants also took part in hands-on Korean cooking sessions. TİKA likewise shared T rkiye's experience in developing its tourism industry and its expertise in vocational education. The training brought together 86 participants, including professors from the National University of Tourism, instructors from vocational training centers, and tourism industry professionals. Participants explored tourism curriculum design as well as the industry's economic and employment impacts, seeking to develop a tourism education model tailored to Tajikistan's specific context.KOICA plans to incorporate the outcomes of this training into its economic development and job creation initiatives while also exploring opportunities to support the overseas expansion of Korean tourism companies.📰 NEWS 5. KOICA, LG Electronics, and UNDP Establish Youth-Focused Technical Training Hub ▲ May 15 (local time), as part of the Africa Regional Peacebuilding and Prevention of Violent Extremism Project jointly implemented by KOICA and UNDP, LG Electronics agreed to provide vocational training in electrical engineering, electronics, and information technology to youth in Mogadishu, Somalia. Officials pose for a commemorative photo, including (from the fourth person from the left in the front row, moving right) Park Wan-kyu, country director of the KOICA Kenya Office; Yang Seung-hwan, head of the LG Electronics Ethiopia Branch; and Lionel Lawrence, UNDP Somalia country director. KOICA, LG Electronics, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are strengthening cooperation to provide vocational skills training for youth in Somalia. On May 15 (local time), LG Electronics and UNDP signed a Business Agreement on Youth Technical Training Cooperation in Somalia, agreeing to deliver vocational training in electrical engineering, electronics, and information technology to young people in Mogadishu in connection with KOICA's Africa Regional Peacebuilding and Prevention of Violent Extremism Project. This initiative marks the first replication of the Ethiopia-based LG-KOICA Hope Vocational Training School model in Somalia. A hands-on technical training hub utilizing LG Electronics' products and equipment will be established in Mogadishu, providing training in electronics and home appliance repair, IT and networking, as well as employment and entrepreneurship skills. Somali instructors who have completed certified training in Ethiopia will serve as trainers, with the goal of strengthening local ownership and ensuring long-term sustainability. Graduates will have opportunities to be employed as repair technicians and service personnel or to receive support for starting businesses in related fields. The initiative is expected to contribute to youth employment, community stability, and the development of a sustainable ICT service ecosystem.
2026.06.04


