Bill Gates' ODA request highlights Korea's inconsistent policy

U.S. billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, left, meets National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik at the Assembly in Seoul, Thursady. Yonhap

Korea’s lack of consistency in official development assistance (ODA), which tends to shift with each change in government, is raising concerns following U.S. billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates’ request for increased contributions.

ODA refers to foreign aid provided to developing countries, including grants, concessional loans and technical assistance aimed at promoting economic development and welfare.

During a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Thursday, Gates referenced the longstanding U.N. target, suggesting that Korea raise its ODA to 0.7 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).

He noted that Korea’s current ODA-to-GDP ratio remains below 0.3 percent and expressed hope that it would increase over time.

Whether Korea can act on Gates’ request, however, remains uncertain, as ODA policy direction often fluctuates depending on the administration in power, according to experts.

“The ODA policy varies between conservative and liberal administrations, making it difficult for Korea to meet the 0.7 percent target as a responsible member of the international community,” said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University.

Shin noted that ODA accounted for 0.21 percent of Korea’s gross national income in 2024, the highest level since 2010, when the OECD-operated Development Assistance Committee began compiling such data.

In terms of total volume, Korea’s ODA reached $3.94 billion in 2024, up 24.8 percent from the previous year — marking an all-time high.

This sharp increase was largely driven by ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who pledged to more than double Korea’s ODA to $10 billion by 2030, compared to 2019 levels.

However, the policy direction has shifted under liberal President Lee Jae Myung.

Lee ordered a “sweeping review” of ODA programs shortly after taking office, June 4, stating that “many ODA projects are difficult to justify,” and signaling the need to scrutinize the purpose and transparency of past initiatives.

He had already voiced skepticism during his presidential campaign, calling the 2025 ODA budget — worth 6.5 trillion won ($4.66 billion) — “excessive.”

“I will not alter the corresponding budget,” he said at the time, “but I may consider alternative measures to use the funds to further promote Korean pop culture.”

Behind Lee’s skepticism lies a lobbying scandal allegedly linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee and involving a Cambodia ODA project carried out under the previous Yoon administration.

The controversy has raised questions over whether public development aid funds were misused for private interests under the guise of foreign aid.

Following Lee’s inauguration, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, which holds a legislative majority, cut an 80 billion won loan earmarked for the Cambodia project from a supplementary budget.

“Despite such irregularities, the overall direction to keep ODA growing should remain unchanged. But that may not be the case under the Lee administration,” an economics professor said on condition of anonymity.