What will Oh Hyun-joo do as KOICA’s new chief?

Oh will lead KOICA, which is affiliated with the foreign ministry and runs the government’s official development assistance programs. The ministry said it expects her to advance KOICA’s vision as a leading global development cooperation agency and strengthen its role in coordinating South Korea’s grant aid programs.

Former presidential security official named new KOICA chief

Q: What experience did Oh Hyun-joo bring to her appointment as KOICA chief?

Oh’s diplomatic career includes work in development cooperation and multilateral diplomacy, as well as service as deputy chief of mission at South Korea’s U.N. mission. She also served as ambassador to the Holy See and as third deputy director of the presidential National Security Office.

Q: How long is the KOICA president’s term, and how is the president selected?

The KOICA president serves a three-year term. Selection follows an open recruitment process and screening by an executive recommendation committee, and the president may be reappointed for additional one-year terms.

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Summary

Oh Hyun-joo, former third deputy director of the presidential National Security Office, has been named to lead KOICA, the foreign ministry said Friday. She will formally take office on Monday and head the agency responsible for the government’s official development assistance programs. The ministry said it expects her to strengthen KOICA’s role as an integrated platform for South Korea’s grant aid programs.

Key Facts

Oh entered the foreign service in 1994 and held posts in development cooperation and multilateral diplomacy, including deputy chief of mission at South Korea’s U.N. mission.
She became South Korea’s first female ambassador to the Holy See in January 2023 and was appointed third deputy director of the National Security Office in June last year.
The KOICA president serves a three-year term and is selected through open recruitment and screening by an executive recommendation committee.
The president may be reappointed for additional one-year terms.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 13, 2026 11:59 am KST

Oh Hyun-joo, then third deputy director of the National Security Office, briefs reporters on the outcome of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Geneva, Switzerland, June 17. Yonhap

Oh Hyun-joo, former third deputy director of the presidential National Security Office, has been named to head the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the foreign ministry said Friday.

Oh will formally take office on Monday to lead the agency, which is affiliated with the foreign ministry and responsible for the government's official development assistance (ODA) programs.

After entering the foreign service in 1994, Oh held various posts in development cooperation and multilateral diplomacy, including deputy chief of mission at South Korea's U.N. mission.

She became South Korea's first female ambassador to the Holy See in January 2023 and was appointed third deputy director of the National Security Office in June last year.

"Oh is expected to actively realize KOICA's vision of becoming a leading global development cooperation agency that pursues universal values and shared national interests, while strengthening its role as an integrated platform for South Korea's grant aid programs," the ministry said in a statement.

The KOICA president serves a three-year term and is selected through an open recruitment process and screening by an executive recommendation committee. The president may be reappointed for additional one-year terms.

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