South Korea is one of the top seven development partners to Cambodia.1 Korea’s development assistance to Cambodia began as humanitarian aid in the early 1990s, and grew significantly after diplomatic relations between Korea and Cambodia were re-established in the late 1997. Korea’s grant aids to Cambodia focus on poverty reduction and improvement on economic and social infrastructure, based on their own experience overcoming poverty and achieving economic development.2. Between 1996 and 2022, South Korea has extended their grants assistance totaling 431 million USD to Cambodia.3.
According to Cambodia ODA Database of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, as of November 2024, 426 South Korea-funded projects have been completed, while 81 are still in progress.4 These projects cover a range of sectors such as agriculture, education, environment, climate change, infrastructure, health, etc.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is South Korea’s primary agency for providing official development assistance (ODA) to developing countries. In September 2003, KOICA opened its office in Cambodia which became a base to perform a more systematic grant aid. According to Mr. CHANG Won Sam, president of KOICA, Cambodia is the country that receives third largest grant from KOICA.5. In Cambodia, KOICA has concentrated on rural and agricultural development, human resources development, healthcare, infrastructure and green energy. KOICA has been running a project aid program to help with the constructing of infrastructure and facilities, as well as a training program to help with the development of human resources and to share technical expertise by bringing policy makers, researchers, and technicians from Cambodia to Korea.6
H.E. Chang Won Sam (left), President of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron (right), Minister of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MOEYS) exchanged pleasantries. Photo taken from KOICA facebook page, Taken on 15 March 2024.
According to KOICA’s official website, their aid scheme to Cambodia is divided into four categories, namely project support, World Friend Korea Program (WFK), Global Fellowship Program and Public Private Partnership program. South Korea, through KOICA, has supported Cambodia approximately 28 million USD in 2022, KOICA Open Data Portal reported.7 This illustrated a sharp increase from 2019 where KOICA provided around 17 million USD to the Cambodia government.8 In 2022, KOICA has allocated 30% of their funding to Health sector, 26.8 % to technology, Environment and Energy and 19.6% to Education.9
In health sector, South Korea through KOICA handed over $8M Cambodia-Korea Friendship ENT (ears, nose, throat) Building (in Preah Ang Duong hospital) to Cambodia to provide specialized treatment for people with ears, nose, throat problems. It was built after the Cambodia-Korea Friendship Eye building with a grant aid of $5.5M. Besides that, there is the project of Strengthening Capacity of National Pediatric Hospital in Cambodia with a budget of $16M to strengthen the development of tertiary pediatric hospitals at the National Pediatric Hospital by improving the quality-of-service care. In addition, there is a Health Equity & Quality Improvement Project (H-EQIP) with a budget of $7M to improve access to efficient and quality healthcare services, and increase equity. KOICA also established a project for strengthening maternal and child health in the Northeastern region of Cambodia with a budget of $7M to improve the quality and access to medical care for mothers and newborns.10
Moreover, KOICA supported the Establishment of Environment Engineering in RUPP with a budget $6.9M to foster excellent faculty for the environmental engineering field by providing capacity building of higher education in environmental engineering. Additionally, there is a project for capacity development of ICT education in lower secondary education with a budget of $7M to strengthen the core capabilities of teenagers in the 21st century through ICT education and quality improvement.11
Plus, there is a project of the Home-Grown School Feeding program (HGSF) with a budget of $10M to expand equal education opportunities and improve nutritional status, and farmers’ income that deliver local products. Also, there is a project for the establishment of business incubation system between university and industry in Cambodia with a budget of $7.91M to strengthen Cambodia’s national competitiveness.12
Beside, KOICA also involved in landmine clearance and demining in Cambodia. They have established a project Clearing for Results Phase 4 (CFR-IV): Mine Action for Human Development with a budget of $10M. The objective is to secure the physical and emotional safety of residents through the removal of land mine contamination zones in three northwestern provinces in Cambodia and to promote social and economic development in deprived areas.13
Furthermore, there is the conservation and restoration project of Chorm temple of Phreah Pithu temple group and the terrace of elephants in Angkor Thom with a budget of $7M. Also, there is a project of feasibility study on water supply measures and flood mitigation for the Prek Neal river basin in Svay Rieng with a budget of $2M to make a basic plan for flood mitigation and water supply in Svay Rieng.14
World Friend Korea (WFK) program: In 2001, the government of the Republic of Korea and the Royal government of Cambodia signed an agreement regarding volunteer dispatch. Ever since 2003, Korean volunteers have been dispatched to Cambodia to share their expertise, knowledge and experiences in an effort to improve the quality of life of the country and foster mutual understanding and cooperation. WFK primarily intervenes in the fields of social welfare, nursing, and vocational training in Cambodia. From 2003 to 2023, a total of 892 Korean volunteers were sent to Cambodia. Of these, 581 were involved in education, 130 in health, 71 in industrial energy, 40 in agriculture and forestry, 53 in governance, 13 as global doctors, and 4 with KMCO (KOICA Multilateral Cooperation Officer).15
Global Fellowship Program (CIAT): It’s a KOICA training program that designed to enhance the capacity of partner countries by imparting Korea’s development expertise and technical skills to policymakers, public officials, and experts across various fields. From 1994 to 2020, KOICA has invited about 3,182 Cambodian officials to participate in training courses in Korea across different fields, including education (263), health (165), industry and energy (467), rural development (495), administrative systems (962), ICT (303), climate change/environment (223), and other areas (304).16
Public Private Partnership (PPP) Program: Under this program, KOICA has supported projects aimed at fostering socio-economic development and improving local living conditions in developing countries. Since 1995, KOICA has implemented 136 Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Programs in Cambodia.17
Combating COVID-19
South Korea’s KOICA has contributed various kinds of supports since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Korean Government made significant contributions by donating laboratory equipment, negative pressure devices, masks, and sanitizers directly to Cambodia’s Ministry of Health, the National Pediatric Hospital, and the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital.18. They also provided additional items such as RNA extraction kits, SD Biosensor kits, specimen collection swabs, and other PCR testing accessories.19. For instance, in May 2020, South Korea donated $200,000 and test kits worth $100,000 to Cambodia.20. Furthermore, in 2020, South Korea donated 10 ambulances to the Ministry of Health, and in 2021, KOICA provided an additional 15 ambulances to enhance healthcare services in Cambodia. This substantial assistance has strengthened the long-standing health cooperation between the two countries, improving Cambodia’s health system, disease prevention and response to infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, human resource development, and health infrastructure.21.
Related to South Korean Aid
References
- 1. Lowy Institute, “Cambodia: Key development Challenge,” accessed January 2025.
- 2. Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Kingdom of Cambodia, “Grant Aid and EDCF,” accessed September 2024.
- 3. Post Staff, “Cambodia-South Korea relations: Fruitful ties which should be cherished”, Phnom Penh Post, 23 April 2023.
- 4. Council for The Development of Cambodia (CDC), “Cambodia ODA database,” accessed September 2024.
- 5. Khmer Times Staff, “KOICA’s Pledge to expand cooperation with Cambodia for the Triple Win : for Korea, for Cambodia and for the people of the two countries,” 15 March 2024.
- 6. Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture, “Korea’s Cooperation in Agriculture and Rural Development in Cambodia – Comparison with Approaches of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),” 2013.
- 7. KOICA Open Data Portal, “Cambodia Country Overview,” accessed January 2025។
- 8. ibid.
- 9. ibid.
- 10. KOICA Cambodia office, “Project support,” accessed September 2024.
- 11. ibid.
- 12. ibid.
- 13. ibid.
- 14. ibid.
- 15. KOICA Cambodia office, “World Friends Korea (WFK) Program”, April 2021.
- 16. KOICA Cambodia office, “Global Fellowship Program (CIAT),” April 2021, accessed September 2024.
- 17. KOICA Cambodia office, “Public Private Partnership (PPP) Program,” April 2021, accessed October 2024
- 18. Buth Reaksmey Kongkea, “S Korean govt provides 15 more ambulances,” 13 October 2023.
- 19. Mom Kunthear, “South Korea offers further assistance in Covid-19 battle”, 20 April 2021.
- 20. Voun Dara, “South Korea donates medical supplies to fight Covid,” 06 May 2021.
- 21. Buth Reaksmey Kongkea, “S Korean govt provides 15 more ambulances,” 13 October 2023.
