- Deputy Minister Chang Wook-jin Highlights the Need to Make Better Use of Limited Resources and Strengthen Cooperation with Asian Providers -

- Korea’s Role in International Development Cooperation Discussed with the OECD DAC Chair –

Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Chang Wook-jin attended the 2026 Asia-DAC Dialogue on Development in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 16, 2026. The dialogue was co-hosted by Korea, the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) and Thailand. During his visit, he also met with OECD DAC Chair Carsten Staur.

The Dialogue brought together OECD DAC members and Asian providers, including Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam, to discuss how they can work together to support developing countries more effectively and share their development experiences. Participants included representatives from Korea and other Asian countries, DAC members such as Japan, Australia and Norway, and international organizations.

At the Dialogue, Deputy Minister Chang noted that development financing is becoming increasingly limited, while the needs of developing countries remain high. He stressed that the focus should be not only on how much support is provided, but also on how to achieve greater results with limited resources.

In this regard, he explained that Korea is working to consolidate grant aid programs under the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). He added that this effort aims to reduce duplication and make better use of limited resources to achieve greater development impact.

Deputy Minister Chang also highlighted that Korea and other Asian countries share a unique experience: They were once aid recipients and are now helping other countries develop. He suggested bringing together the resources and expertise of traditional donors and the development experiences of Asian partners to find ways of working together that better meet the needs of each partner country.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Chang met with OECD DAC Chair Carsten Staur to exchange views on Korea’s role and contributions in the changing international development landscape. They also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the DAC and Asian countries.

Korea will continue to work with the international community to make development cooperation more effective. It will also strengthen practical cooperation with Asian countries, drawing on Korea’s own development experience and strengths.