MAGAZINE KOICA
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'Korean-Style' E-Government Blossoms in Central Asia
Modernization and Capacity Development of the Advanced “Administrative Information Sharing and Interoperability System” in Kyrgyzstan
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Educational Innovation Experiment in Zanzibar to Foster National Talent
The Project for Enhancing the Quality of Secondary School Education through holistic approach in Zanzibar, Tanzania
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PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
'I want to leave behind works that convey the history of the forced relocation of the Koryoin' Interview with Viktor Moon, a Koryoin master painter▲ Viktor Moon, a Koryoin master painter, settled in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do Viktor Moon, a painter who has explored the history of ethnic Koreans (Koryoin) from the former Soviet Union who were forcibly relocated in Russia or Central Asia and sought his own roots, settled in Gwangju Koryoin Village, Jeollanam-do. Born in 1951, he returned to his ancestral land, bringing with him a collection of paintings he had created in his native Kazakhstan. His official settlement date was March 1, 2024. Now, he wants to spend the rest of his life in the city of Gwangju, devoting himself to art and leaving an artistic legacy for future generations.He is a third-generation Koryoin from Ushtobe, Kazakhstan. Born in the first Koryoin settlement, he graduated from Almaty Art College in 1975 and began his artistic career in St. Petersburg, Russia. He later worked as the chief artist of the Koryo Theater of Kazakhstan and for a satirical magazine. He is an internationally recognized painter whose works are housed not only in the Presidential Palace and the National Museum of Art in Kazakhstan, but also in art museums across the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Egypt, Japan, and Russia. However, the true significance of his paintings became apparent only after his "return" to this land. Now, "Our History" In Kazakhstan, paintings depicting the history of the Koryoin were merely considered the story of a minority group. But here, it is accepted as "our history." The meaning is vastly different. He first visited Gwangju in 1994 for an exhibition. In 2014, while staying in Gwangju and working on his paintings, he learned with the help of an acquaintance that his family name belonged to the Nam-pyeong Moon clan. He even visited Moon Rock, a site tied to the origin legend of the Nam-pyeong Moon lineage. It was only then that I truly found my roots, he recalls.His family history is filled with epic stories of migration, exile, survival, and return. His grandfather was relocated to the Maritime Province in Russia, and later to Kazakhstan. He has retraced that journey in reverse, returning to the Korean Peninsula. His statement, "Returning to the Korean Peninsula feels like destiny," doesn t sound like a mere sentiment, and that s why it resonates so deeply.The Heart of Koryoin, The Koryo Theater▲ Artist Moon Viktor is currently working on an illustrated book based on traditional Korean folktales. His goal is to help Koryoin children living in Central Asia connect with their roots through these stories. His artistic journey began with a scene from his childhood. I was born and raised in Leninkits, a remote rural village in Ushtobe, Kazakhstan. There weren t even proper houses around us. I lived in a mud house, and when I was 10, I once carved the face of a commander from a postcard into a brick using a kitchen knife. One day after it rained, an elderly woman from the neighborhood saw the face of the commander and fainted - it had turned grotesque because the rain had distorted the carving. After that, my mother bought me paper and pencils and had me draw at home instead. My mother was skilled in calligraphy, and through her, I was able to ask some acquaintances who could paint to teach me little by little. Later, I studied at Almaty Art College and in St. Petersburg, where I developed my current painting style. There is another place that cannot be left out of his artistic life: the National Koryo Theater in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He worked as the chief stage artist at this theater. Although the conditions were poor at the time, with a lack of lighting and stage equipment, he took full responsibility for the entire stage design process, hand-painting the backdrops and costumes himself. He personally painted large stage murals measuring 5 to 10 meters and was deeply involved in the production of folktales such as Heungbu and Nolbu. He also went on tour to places like Uzbekistan and Russia, taking full charge of setting up and dismantling props. The Koryo Theater was not just a simple performance venue. The theater was a cultural sanctuary that preserved the identity of the Koryoin community, and for him, it was both the foundation of his career as an artist and a training ground that awakened his ethnic consciousness."The Koryo Theater was the most important art school in my life. It was there that I learned how to breathe with the community and express history and culture through art."The Koryo Theater modernized its stage, lighting, and sound equipment in 2023 with the support of KOICA. He expressed his deep gratitude for KOICA's support and said, "I hope that the space will continue to be a center for preserving the cultural pride of Koryoin in the future."Gwangju Korean Village and Moon Viktor Art Museum▲ Among artist Moon Viktor s works is , a piece depicting three sisters named Faith, Hope, and Love, connected together. It embodies the hope for unity and the aspiration to live as one community. For him, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, is a special place. This place is where he realized who he is and where he has come from, and it is the city that made his rebirth as an artist possible. The solo exhibition held at the Gwangju Woo Jaeghil Art Museum in 2017, marking the 80th anniversary of the forced migration of Koryoins, became the turning point that deeply imprinted his artistic world on Korean society for the first time. His paintings were not just simple images but voices that contained the pain and history of the era.After struggling with the aftereffects of knee joint replacement surgery in 2022, he received treatment with the help of the Gwangju Koryoin Village, and this experience led him to decide to permanently reside in Gwangju. At that time, he obtained an F-4 Overseas Korean visa to prepare for settlement, and his health significantly improved during his stay in Korea. Looking back on that time, he recalled, "As my body healed, so did my mind." What enabled him to pick up the brush again was not just the result of medical treatment but the support of people and the warm welcome of the community. In 2024, he returned to Gwangju with the many paintings he had created over the years. For him, the Gwangju Koryoin Village launched a fundraising campaign in 2023 to build an art museum, and as a result, a section on the second floor of the Koryoin Village Comprehensive Support Center was created as both his studio and exhibition space. The space born from this effort is the "Moon Viktor Art Museum."The art museum officially opened on March 1, 2024. The opening exhibition featured his major works such as <1937 Koryoin Forced Relocation Train>, , and , along with over 50 acrylic paintings being unveiled in Korea for the first time. His works, which transcend the boundaries of painting, sculpture, documentation, and testimony, are closer to reflection than mere appreciation. In particular, <1937 Koryoin Forced Relocation Train> was also created as a tile mural at the Gwangju Koryoin Culture Center, expanding into a public memory of the regional community.Canvas of Memories Built with Dots▲ is a work that symbolizes the roots of the Moon family through ancestors dressed in hanbok (Korean traditional dress) and gat (Korean traditional hat). The figure in the suit at the bottom of the painting is none other than artist Moon Viktor himself. He does not leave the memories of migration and exile as merely personal narratives. is a painting created by imagining the life of his grandfather, whom he could not meet, and it fully expresses the longing for his Koryoin ancestors who lived without losing their ethnic identity. When I was a child, my mother was reluctant to share the painful memories of the forced migration with her children. This kept me from recognizing my identity as a Koryoin. It was only after I became an adult and learned that my maternal grandfather was Korean and that my family had experienced forced migration that I began to express this historical reality through art. One of the works born from this background is . Through this work, I imagined the life of the grandfather I never met and expressed the pain and longing of the Koryoin people. Beyond being just an art piece, I also have the desire to leave it as a valuable record that passes on the memory of forced relocation to future generations. His paintings are created using pointillism. This method, which builds form and narrative with tens of thousands of dots, seems like an obsession with the analog in an era dominated by digital painting. "The time spent placing each dot is like meditation for me. It requires a lot of effort, but the depth it creates is equally significant."His work is an ode to "slowness" and, at the same time, a struggle with "memory." He carves the traces of Koryoins' history and survival into each dot, writing with a language that will last longer than words.Now he says, "I want to continue working in Gwangju with peace of mind. And I want to leave this path I have walked on as a painting for future generations." His return is both a confrontation with the past and a new beginning. He is no longer a wandering artist. He is now reawakening the roots of the Koryoin on the land of Gwangju.
- 2025.06.02
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12min
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KOICA NEWS
Latest issues at a glance KOICA NEWSMay, a month that reminds us of the preciousness of family, is filled with welcome news as warm as its weather. We are delighted to share the news that the KOICA Paraguay Office, celebrating its 30th anniversary, has received a commendation from the Paraguayan National Congress. At the Korea-Vietnam Industrial Technology College established by KOICA, 53 skilled professionals in welding for shipbuilding have graduated. And in the West Bank of Palestine, which is suffering from the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas, an integrated rehabilitation center has opened. In addition, you can also find updates on the Safety in Field training for KDRT prospective members and the launch of a climate crisis response agriculture project in Tajikistan. 📰 NEWS 1. Paraguay Office Receives Commendation from the Paraguayan National Congress▲ At the event commemorating the 60th anniversary of Korean immigration, held at the Paraguayan National Congress on April 22 (local time), (from left) Raul Latorre, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies; Shin Hye-young, Director of the KOICA Paraguay Office; Yoon Chan-sik, Korean Ambassador to Paraguay; and H ctor Figueredo, Member of the Chamber of Deputies and President of the Korea-Paraguay Parliamentary Friendship Association, pose for a commemorative photo. On April 22 (local time), the KOICA Paraguay Office, celebrating its 30th anniversary, received the Las Residentas commendation from the Paraguayan National Congress in recognition of its contributions to national development.KOICA began its cooperation with Paraguay in 1993 with a rural water supply project. In 1995, the KOICA Paraguay Office was officially established. Since then, KOICA has designated Paraguay as a key partner country in Latin America and has provided a total of USD 182.26 million (approximately KRW 211.6 billion) in support to date. In addition, over the past 30 years, KOICA has dispatched 1,218 volunteers to more than 300 institutions and has operated training programs to share Korea s technology and systems with Paraguayan officials and professionals. Recently, KOICA has been expanding its cooperation into the field of digital partnership, combining the needs of the Paraguayan government with Korea s strengths. In particular, by modernizing public administration and improving digital accessibility, KOICA is paving the way for mutual growth. 📰 NEWS 2. First Graduates for Industrial Talent Development in Vietnam s Welding for Shipbuilding Sector ▲ A scene from the welding for shipbuilding talent development training conducted in March as part of the Vocational Education and Training Support Project for Employment of Vulnerable Groups and Youth in Areas Severely Affected by the Vietnam War. On April 25 (local time), KOICA held a graduation ceremony for the Welding for Shipbuilding Industry Talent Development Program at the Korea-Vietnam Industrial Technology Collegein Ngh An Province, Vietnam, producing 53 skilled graduates. KOICA is nurturing talent by establishing a technical school through the Vocational Education and Training Support Project for Employment of Vulnerable Groups and Youth in Areas Severely Affected by the Vietnam War (2023 2029, $12 million). For this project, KOICA formed a consortium with three HD Hyundai Heavy Industries affiliates (HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Mipo, and HD Hyundai Samho), as well as Ulsan Metropolitan City and the University of Ulsan. Korean experts in welding for shipbuilding have been dispatched to the Korea-Vietnam Industrial Technology College in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, where they will train a total of 440 people over three years until 2027. Local technical instructors receive training in Korea, and graduates have opportunities to find employment in shipbuilding-related industries both in Korea and abroad. Based on the success of this pilot project, KOICA plans to expand the program to other partner countries, such as Uzbekistan and Cambodia. 📰 NEWS 3. Opening of the Integrated Rehabilitation Center in Palestine▲ A view of the rehabilitation center established by KOICA in Ramallah, West Bank, as part of the Establishment of Public Rehabilitation Outpatient Care Centres and Capacity Building of Human Resources in the West Bank, the State of Palestine. Residents of the West Bank of Palestine, who have long suffered from the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas, are now able to receive professional rehabilitation treatment. On May 6 (local time), KOICA opened rehabilitation centers in two cities - Ramallah and Qabatiya - in the West Bank of Palestine. These are the first integrated rehabilitation centers in the West Bank to address a wide range of disabilities, including physical, emotional, and speech impairments. The rehabilitation centers are equipped with occupational therapy rooms, physical therapy rooms, speech therapy rooms, and mental health counseling rooms. They also feature modern facilities such as a VR-based gait and balance training system and 3D interactive devices used for cognitive rehabilitation. The opening of these rehabilitation centers is one of the outcomes of the Establishment of Public Rehabilitation Outpatient Care Centres and Capacity Building of Human Resources in the West Bank, the State of Palestine, which KOICA has been implementing in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2021. Through this project, KOICA has provided facility support and has also contributed to strengthening medical expertise by offering on-site training for local medical personnel. In addition, KOICA has assisted in the operation of the centers by developing standard operating guidelines. 📰 NEWS 4. Safety in Field Training for KDRT Prospective Members Conducted with UNHCR▲ During the Safety in Field training conducted for KDRT prospective members in Hua Hin, Thailand, from April 21 to 25, the participants are receiving instruction from their trainer. From April 21 to 25 (local time), KOICA, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), conducted Safety in Field training for Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) prospective members in Hua Hin, Thailand. The recent training, attended by a total of 22 KDRT prospective members affiliated with KOICA, the National Medical Center, and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, focused on enhancing safety knowledge and strengthening the emergency response capabilities required at humanitarian disaster sites.Heo Jin-bok, Assistant Manager of the KOICA Emergency Response Team and a KDRT prospective member, said, This training was especially meaningful because it was conducted in a hands-on manner in an unfamiliar foreign environment, allowing us to experience effective ways to respond to various emergency situations we may encounter during actual deployments. 📰 NEWS 5. Full-scale Launch of Climate Crisis Response Agriculture Project in Tajikistan▲ On May 16, at the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, Hong Seok-hwa, Vice President of KOICA (right), and Davlatzoda Zafarbek, Head of the Tajikistan Agency, pose for a commemorative photo after signing the RD for the project to support the modernization of agricultural water irrigation management in Tajikistan.On May 16 (local time), KOICA signed a Record of Discussion (RD) with the Tajikistan government for two ODA projects in the agricultural sector aimed at strengthening climate change resilience. Ninety-three percent of Tajikistan s territory is mountainous, resulting in a shortage of arable land, and its agricultural structure is heavily concentrated on certain crops such as cotton. In addition, due to recent climate change, it has become increasingly difficult to secure agricultural water, causing continued losses for farmers.Accordingly, KOICA will invest $18.5 million (approximately 25.7 billion KRW) over the next five years to support projects that modernize agricultural water irrigation management and greenhouse horticulture facilities. Through this project, comprehensive support will be provided across all areas of agriculture - including facility improvements, productivity enhancement, and the development of new markets for agricultural products - focusing on the Rudaki and Hisor regions. Going forward, KOICA plans to continue its efforts to enhance the climate resilience of small-scale farms in Tajikistan, while the Tajikistan government looks forward to benefiting from Korea s experience in water resource management.
- 2025.06.02
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12min
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Educational Innovation Experiment in Zanzibar to Foster National Talent
A classroom in a secondary school in Zanzibar. Just a few years ago, the scene featured dirt floors, worn-out desks, and well-thumbed textbooks. The classroom is now equipped with desks and chairs that allow students to study comfortably, an ICT-integrated learning environment, and laboratory equipment. This is thanks to the "The Project for Enhancing the Quality of Secondary School Education through holistic approach in Zanzibar, Tanzania" which has been implemented by KOICA since 2018. This project, which invested a budget of 10 million dollars (approximately 13 billion won) over seven years until 2024, aimed to provide comprehensive support, including strengthening teacher capacity, improving educational infrastructure, and expanding community involvement. It focused not only on building schools or providing equipment but also on transforming the educational methods of both students and teachers. ▲ Students are practicing in the newly built science laboratory and using the new equipment provided through the KOICA project. Enhancing the Quality of LearningThe secondary education system in Zanzibar, Tanzania, has long struggled with low learning outcomes. In particular, the teaching methods of local teachers were limited to rote learning, and there was a lack of student-centered and participatory approaches. To address these problems, KOICA carried out projects focusing on developing student-centered educational methodologies, operating teacher training programs, and strengthening the Teacher Centers. A representative of the Zanzibar Ministry of Education and Vocational Training said, "As secondary education has focused on quantitative expansion, there has been a lack of policies to improve the quality of teaching," adding, "The KOICA project has provided teachers with teaching methods they can apply in real classrooms and has helped parents and the community participate in school management."Teacher training is one of the key components of the project. The goal is to break away from the traditional rote learning approach and introduce "learner-centered pedagogy," enabling students to think more independently and take the lead in their learning. To this end, more than 1,000 teachers received training at 10 Teacher Centers across the region. The 40 master trainers and 125 resource trainers trained through the program are now playing a key role in imparting the new teaching methods to their fellow teachers. ▲ A teacher who has completed the training is instructing students on how to use the science experiment equipment. Laying the Foundation for EducationPoor learning environments were also a major factor in lowering the quality of education. Worn-out and insufficient teaching materials, science labs lacking experimental equipment, and a shortage of classroom space all contributed to the decline in students' learning outcomes. As a result, KOICA launched an environmental improvement project aimed at improving the teaching environment in secondary schools, strengthening the infrastructure of Teacher Centers, and creating science laboratories and ICT learning spaces.So far, facilities such as science labs and libraries at over 20 schools have been renovated, and the learning environment has been improved through the integration of ICT. Learning materials have also been provided to each school. In particular, considering the health of students, bathroom facilities and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure have been established. With the establishment of such sanitation facilities, female students have been able to attend school consistently without needing to take breaks.During the COVID-19 pandemic, radio-based educational broadcasts were provided to fill the educational gap caused by school closures. KOICA, noting that the radio penetration rate (62.4%) is much higher than the TV penetration rate (39.6%) and that most households with teenagers have radios, collaborated with the Ministry of Education and broadcasting stations to produce educational programs immediately after the school closure order. In 2021, solar-powered radios and solar charging stations were also distributed. ▲ The newly constructed science laboratory School Management, Together with the CommunityThe transformation of education does not happen only in the classroom. KOICA focused on revitalizing the School Management Committee (SMC) to enable the local community to participate in improving education. KOICA noted that the sustainability of education is ensured when a school is not just a space for teachers and students, but a part of the community created in collaboration with the local population. The SMC is composed of teachers, parents, and local community leaders, and it plays a role in providing input on school management and student education. KOICA provided training on school management monitoring methods for these members and introduced the "School Quality Report," enabling the community to directly assess the quality of education at schools. Parents said, "We never knew we could directly participate in improving the school environment," and "We now truly realize that our children's education is the key to the community's development."The most notable change through this project is the improvement in students' achievement. Zanzibar's basic education is a 12-year program. According to data published by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, the enrollment rate for general secondary schools (Form 1-4) is 74.4%, with 115,352 students enrolled. This is a significant scale compared to the 8,628 students enrolled in private schools. However, according to the analysis of exam results by the Ministry, the pass rate for the Form 4 graduation exam in public schools was significantly lower than that in private schools, highlighting the urgent need to reform public education. As a result of the project, achievement levels in English, mathematics, and science for Form 4 students at the target schools significantly improved, and student satisfaction also increased.KOICA is supporting the government in institutionalizing the teacher training program as a policy to ensure the sustainability of the school management system. KOICA plans to continue collaborating with the Tanzanian government to expand the teacher training programs using the School Quality Report system and Teacher Centers across Zanzibar.
2025.03.27
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A Bridge Between Cambodia and Korea
▲ 2023 Completion Ceremony for the KOICA Cambodia 160th WFK Volunteers (The person in the white t-shirt on the far right is me) The success story of a migrant worker who returned home in glory after working in Korea has become quite common. My home country, Cambodia, is no exception. Many people around me have bought land, purchased houses, and opened restaurants or cafes with the money they earned in Korea. As a result, there is a widespread perception among Cambodians that 'you can get rich if you go to Korea.' In 2014, I also set foot on Korean soil for the first time, filled with great ambition. In my early twenties at the time, I worked at electrical and food factories in the Gyeonggi-do and Incheon areas. I was fortunate to meet many good people at the factories. The bosses had great personalities, and my colleagues were friendly, so I was able to work without much difficulty, even in a foreign country. Five years later, when my work visa was about to expire and it was time to return to Cambodia, I felt regretful, but I made a firm promise to myself that I would definitely come back, remembering Korea's warm hospitality. I didn't forget that promise, and even after returning to Cambodia, I studied Korean diligently. Thanks to that, I got another opportunity to return to Korea. I was able to study at the Global Language Center of Bucheon University. The Korea I returned to was still a warm place. The two years I spent studying with my friends, experiencing, and feeling Korea, remain the happiest moments of my life. I wanted to stay in Korea for a long time, but I had no choice but to stop my studies and return to Cambodia because something unexpected happened at home, and I was deeply saddened.▲ Cultural Exploration by the 160th WFK VolunteersWhen the plans suddenly fell apart, I felt lost and overwhelmed. The dream I had promised myself to achieve in Korea seemed out of reach, and I was worried about what I could do in the future. Along the way, I heard about 'KOICA' from someone I knew. KOICA is a Korean government agency with an office in Cambodia, where Korean staff are dispatched to offer assistance in various fields. I went to Korea to get rich, but they left behind their comfortable lives in Korea to come and help Cambodia! I was amazed, and at the same time, I felt a strong desire to support them.I applied to the KOICA Cambodia Office and joined at the end of 2022. I have now been working as a local staff member for three years. At KOICA's overseas offices, there are not only Korean staff members but also local employees who are well-versed in the circumstances of their own country. At the Cambodia office, 13 local staff members, including myself, are supporting the projects. In particular, at the Cambodia Office, there are 35 large and small projects underway in various fields such as education, health, and rural development, so the role of local staff is crucial.Among these, my main task is to help 20 World Friends Korea Volunteers and 52 Youth Mid-Term Volunteers adapt to the unfamiliar environment in Cambodia. For example, I carefully assist them with all the necessary aspects of local life, such as visa issuance, opening bank accounts, and setting up mobile phones, staying by their side like a close friend. I received a lot of help from Koreans when I was in Korea, and now I feel proud to be able to help Koreans in return.The volunteers I have met here come from a wide range of professions and personalities, from IT technicians to teachers. I am truly grateful to the Koreans who came to my country, Cambodia, with a strong willingness to help others using their talents. So, I organized special sessions to help them understand the local culture more easily. I asked my professor at the Department of Korean Language at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) to give monthly lectures on Cambodian holidays, etiquette, language, and social characteristics. As a result, we held a course called the 'Understanding Cambodian Culture Session.' I had my own experiences of being confused when I first went to Korea because I didn t know about the customs, manners, and daily habits.▲2024 Cambodia Korea Alumni Association-WFK Volunteers Joint Social Activity Thanks to the professor's knowledge of both Korean and Cambodian cultures and his detailed explanations of the differences between the two countries, the volunteers were able to adjust to Cambodia more quickly. In addition to the lectures, various hands-on programs, such as visits to cultural heritage sites and cooking Cambodian dishes, were organized, which greatly increased the volunteers' satisfaction. I was also happy to see the volunteers expressing their gratitude, saying, "The useful course has been a great help in adapting to life in Cambodia." The volunteers who are active in various places across the region always make sure to visit me and express their gratitude whenever they come to the Office. Each time, I am grateful and happy to realize that my work is of great help to someone. Moreover, they love my country, Cambodia, more than anyone else. Isn't it amazing that I get to work with people who love Cambodia as much as I love Korea?Last year, I enrolled in the Department of Korean Language at the Royal University of Phnom Penh to help them even more. Balancing my studies with administrative tasks such as visas and taxes, in addition to my duties for the volunteers, is not easy. However, I am studying hard, managing my limited time, with the hope that as I become more proficient in Korean, I will be able to resolve the volunteers' difficulties more quickly than I do now. After graduation, if possible, I would like to pursue a master's degree in Korea. I would like to not only improve my language skills but also gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture so that I can work for both Korea and Cambodia. I no longer envy those who bought land and buildings with the money they earned in Korea. The pride I feel in being someone who bridges the two countries is far greater than the wealth of those with large sums of money.
2025.03.26
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Latest issues at a glance KOICA NEWS
In March, filled with the warmth of spring, what are some exciting news at KOICA? KOICA President CHANG Won Sam visited four Latin American countries to discuss tailored ODA cooperation strategies. The "Development Cooperation Participation Strategy Briefing," which supports Korean companies' expansion into the global ODA market, was also successfully held. In addition, let's take a look at the launch ceremony of the Project on Promoting ICT Education Environment in Uganda and the news that KOICA's web drama "개발남녀(The Development Couple)" won the "Winner" in the Digital Advertising & Campaign category at the 2024 A.N.D Award. 📰 NEWS 1. KOICA President CHANG Won Sam Visits Four Latin American Countries KOICA President CHANG Won-sam (right) poses for a commemorative photo with President Bernardo Ar valo at the Presidential Palace in Guatemala City on March 5 KOICA President CHANG Won Sam visited Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and Peru from March 2 to 13, where he discussed development cooperation strategies with government officials and monitored ODA project sites. In Mexico, he discussed triangular cooperation and the strengthening of development cooperation with the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) and requested to participate in the MIKTA meeting. In Guatemala, he met with President Bernardo Ar valo to discuss economic development and infrastructure cooperation and shared South Korea's development experiences. In Colombia, KOICA President CHANG held discussions with the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC) to negotiate a ｆramework agreement on grant aid and explored strategies for triangular cooperation. In Peru, he visited KOICA's waste management project site and signed a record of discussion for the Strengthening the Migration Services project of the National Superintendence of Migration. KOICA plans to establish a tailored ODA strategy for the Latin American region based on President CHANG's visit. It also aims to expand the scope of development cooperation to include the Central America and Caribbean regions. 📰 NEWS 2. Development Cooperation Participation Strategy Briefing Successfully Held KOICA held the "2025 Development Cooperation Participation Strategy Briefing" on March 11 at the KBIZ Hall of the Small and Medium Business Association in Yeouido, Seoul. On March 11, KOICA successfully held the "2025 Development Cooperation Participation Strategy Briefing" at the KBIZ Hall of the Small and Medium Business Association in Yeouido, Seoul, with over 300 attendees from businesses and related organizations. In the first part, under the theme "Participation Strategies for Korean ODA Grant and Loan Development Cooperation Projects", presentations were made in the following order: ▲Participation Strategies for KOICA's ODA Procurement and 2025 Procurement Plan ▲Participation Strategies for KOICA's Business Cooperation Program Competitions ▲Participation Strategies for the Export-Import Bank of Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) ODA Procurement Projects. In the second part, under the theme "Global ODA Expansion Strategies and Best Practices," the following presentations were made: ▲Global ODA Business Expansion Strategy and the Korean Trust Fund of the Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) ▲Participation Strategy for the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) Projects ▲Successful Case Studies of Korean Companies Expanding Overseas through Participation in Global ODA Projects. Meanwhile, promotion and consultation booths were set up outside the venue, and online consultations with KOICA's overseas office directors were held on March 12. 📰 NEWS 3. Launch of Educational Environment Innovation at Makerere University in Uganda in partnership with the Export-Import Bank of Korea Park Sung-soo, Korean Ambassador to Uganda (center front row), and John Muyingo, Uganda's State Minister for Higher Education (left front row), talk at the Project on Promoting ICT Education Environment Launch Ceremony at Makerere University in Uganda on February 27 (local time). On February 28, KOICA held the launch ceremony for the Project on Promoting ICT Education Environment at Makerere University in Uganda. This project is an ODA initiative in which KOICA will invest a total of $12.2 million from 2023 to 2028 to support the digital transformation of higher education in Uganda and enhance remote education capabilities. This project is particularly significant as it is being carried out in collaboration with the Export-Import Bank of Korea, which is responsible for providing loan assistance. The Export-Import Bank will provide a loan of approximately $162 million from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to improve education environment at Makerere University in Uganda. KOICA will focus on software to strengthen digital education and remote education capabilities, while the EDCF will take responsibility for infrastructure through loan assistance, with each organization sharing specific roles. Through this, a combined synergy of both grant aid and loan assistance is expected to be achieved. 📰 NEWS 4. Web Drama 개발남녀(The Development Couple) Wins "Winner" in the Digital Advertising & Campaign Category at the 2024 A.N.D Awards Official poster of the KOICA-produced web drama "개발남녀" KOICA's web drama "개발남녀" won the "Winner" in the Digital Advertising & Campaign category at the 2024 A.N.D Awards. The two-episode web drama *개발남녀*, released by KOICA last October, is a romantic comedy that unfolds humorous scenes arising from differing interpretations of "development" between a man working in the IT and a woman in international development cooperation field. Within a week of its release, it garnered 1.75 million views on social media platforms (YouTube, Instagram). "개발남녀" has been praised for promoting the work of KOICA and its missions in a natural way through the new format of a web drama. Meanwhile, in February, KOICA's "PeKO Peace Forest" pop-up store won the Excellence Award in the Character, Webtoon, and Animation category at the 2024 Korea Pop-up Store Awards. "PeKO Peace Forest," designed with the concept of KOICA's character PeKO inviting guests to a secret garden, received positive reviews for naturally providing an opportunity to experience the values of peace and international development cooperation.
2025.03.26
