ED ODA needs full accountability
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee walks outside the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, the site of her pretrial detention hearing. The special prosecutor’s team sought an arrest warrant on Aug. 12, accusing her of violating the Capital Markets Act over alleged involvement in Deutsch Motors stock manipulation, violating the Political Funds Act over alleged interference in a party nomination and accepting bribes under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes for intervening on behalf of a religious group. Yonhap
Korea’s foreign aid must serve the public, not private interests
The recent controversy surrounding Korea’s foreign aid program has cast a troubling light on the misuse of public funds, political interference and suspected collusion with religious entities. The Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), designed as a tool of diplomacy and development, is now under fire for being used as a political instrument rather than a platform for global partnership. This is a clear warning sign that Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) system requires urgent oversight, transparency and reform.
The turning point came when President Lee Jae Myung ordered the immediate suspension of a $439 million EDCF loan for a modular bridge project in the Philippines. Originally rejected by the Ministry of Economy and Finance due to feasibility and corruption concerns, the project was suddenly revived under pressure from Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, a senior political figure aligned with the previous administration. Reports suggest that Kweon personally met with finance ministry officials and pressed the Export-Import Bank of Korea, which manages the EDCF, to reconsider. The result was a quiet reversal of policy, one made without new evidence to justify the change. This set a dangerous precedent, in which political power overrides technical evaluation.
This is only one example in a broader pattern. In Cambodia, EDCF funding for the Korea-Cambodia Friendship Bridge project surged inexplicably from 200 million won ($144,000) in 2023 to nearly 59 billion won in 2025. Investigations suggest that the Unification Church, a controversial religious group, may have lobbied for the expansion. Prosecutors are now looking into the church’s possible role in influencing foreign aid decisions, including whether bribes, gifts or campaign support were exchanged for favorable treatment.
Even more serious are allegations that these lobbying efforts reached the upper levels of government, including figures close to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee. According to court filings, Unification Church operatives reportedly met with then-President-elect Yoon in 2022 to request aid funding for church-related projects. Shortly thereafter, policy documents began to reflect proposals that mirrored those requests. Prosecutors are examining whether this represents a direct link between lobbying and national policymaking.
This confluence of political and religious influence over ODA decisions strikes at the heart of democratic governance. Foreign aid should not be vulnerable to lobbying from any religious group, nor should it be subject to the whims of individual lawmakers. Korea’s global standing as a donor nation depends on the integrity of its aid programs, which must reflect national interests and not personal relationships, ideological agendas or vote-seeking deals.
With Korea’s ODA budget projected to exceed 14 trillion won by 2027, the stakes are higher than ever. These funds are drawn from taxpayers and intended to support infrastructure, education and health care in developing countries. Every won misused undermines not only the effectiveness of aid but also Korea’s reputation as a responsible international partner.
Lee’s prompt decision to suspend the Philippines project was appropriate. But halting one deal is not enough. Korea needs a full-scale audit of all EDCF projects approved under the previous administration, especially those linked to political figures or religious organizations. Law enforcement, the National Assembly and the Board of Audit and Inspection must work together to uncover the full extent of any wrongdoing.
Those found to have abused their power or violated public trust — whether elected officials, civil servants or private intermediaries — must face legal and political consequences. The principle is simple: Public money must serve public interests.
Korea’s ODA program is a symbol of its maturity as a democratic, globally engaged nation. Allowing it to become a tool for influence-peddling and self-enrichment would not only waste resources but stain the country’s moral standing. Now is the time to restore integrity to foreign aid through truth, accountability and reform.