Gov't holds ODA meeting focused on healthcare, cultural sectors

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Kim Min-seok presided over a meeting Monday to discuss how to carry out South Korea's official development assistance (ODA) over the next five years, including strategies for aid in the healthcare and cultural sectors, his office said. Under the health care ODA strategy, the government committed to taking the lead in global healthcare cooperation by leveraging the country's advanced disease prevention system, its medical system based on information technology (IT) and other capabilities, according to Kim's office. The government also resolved to help developing nations build basic healthcare and medical systems through assistance tailored to each recipient's development level and demands, strengthen their responses to infectious diseases, and provide "digital health" technologies to those countries. In an effort to eradicate tuberculosis and malaria, which frequently occur in developing nations, the government decided to newly launch a project covering the entire cycle of prevention, diagnosis and treatment, according to the office. Under the cultural ODA strategy, the government said it will push for projects aimed at helping recipient nations grow their culture industries, including developing tourism content, by taking into account those countries' unique cultures and local demands, and utilizing South Korea's artificial intelligence and IT technologies. During Friday's meeting, the government also approved the results of an inspection into the implementation of 2025 ODA projects, some amendments to this year's ODA projects and a proposal to redesignate key ODA recipient countries, details of which the government did not disclose. An official said the decision not to disclose the "key partner countries" was made in consideration of diplomatic relations with the countries and to ensure strategic flexibility of the program. But the government plans to disclose "country partnership strategies" in phases, the official said. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok (3rd from L) speaks during the 56th meeting on the country's official development assistance at the government complex in Seoul, in this file photo from Feb. 26, 2026. (Yonhap) (END)