“Way Forward for Development Cooperation and Korea for Asia” Roundtable held in South Korea

On September 27, 2024, The Asia Foundation’s office in Korea hosted the Way Forward for Development Cooperation and Korea for Asia roundtable dialogue. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Chairperson Myung Ja KIM delivered congratulatory remarks, and The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Korea Kyungjin SONG moderated the panel discussion. 

Invited Panelists 

• Hae Ryong KWON, Professor, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Former Republic of Korea Ambassador to United Arab Emirates) 
• Jeong-hoon CHOI, Director General of EDCF Operations 2, Export–Import Bank of Korea
• Jae Young KIM, Executive Vice President, Seoul National University
• HE Amit KUMAR, Indian Ambassador to Korea
• Daeshik JO, Secretary General, Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperation (Former Republic of Korea Ambassador to Canada)

The panels discussed the future directions of Korea’s development cooperation and Korea’s role in Asia’s sustainable development with 45 participants from diverse backgrounds, including government, academia, media, and business. 

The following points were highlighted during the roundtable discussion. 

• Raise Korea’s development cooperation effectiveness through competition-based implementation and enhanced evaluation of development programs. 
• Improve recipient country governance to enable efficient development cooperation efforts. 
• Streamline Korea’s design and implementation of development cooperation policies. 
• Expand Korea’s engagement in global governance and strengthen its thought leadership in development cooperation. 
• Leverage The Asia Foundation’s long experience and expertise to advance Korea’s development cooperation. 

The Asia Foundation plans to facilitate further the exchange of ideas and views on Korea’s role in the sustainable development of Asia and its status as a thought leader.