1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the lead agency for Korea’s grant aid programs, plans to actively participate in the international community's efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and plans to strengthen support for developing countries' implementation of the SDGs, with its increased official development assistance (ODA)* budget for this year.

* The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ ODA budget for 2024 stands at KRW 2.792 trillion, an increase of about 40% from that of 2023.

※ The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals adopted by the United Nations in September 2015 with the aim to achieve them by 2030 in the areas of economy, society and environment: (1) poverty eradication, (2) hunger eradication and agriculture, (3) health, (4) education, (5) gender equality, (6) water and sanitation, (7) energy, (8) economic growth, (9) industrialization, (10) inequality reduction, (11) sustainable cities, (12) sustainable consumption and production, (13) climate change, (14) oceans, seas and marine resources, (15) biodiversity and ecosystems, (16) peace and institutions, and (17) means of implementation and global partnership.

2. With its multilateral ODA budget for this year expanded, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will fully engage in the international community's discussions on accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including deepening cooperation with multilateral development cooperation organizations such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the World Food Program (WFP).

o The Ministry will increase its participation in discussions on the operations of multilateral organizations, including UN agencies, and thereby, make constructive contributions to their operations; will strengthen policy consultations with major organizations to review the performance of multilateral development cooperation and to seek ways to develop strategic partnerships; and will improve the system for implementing multilateral aid projects overseas to produce results tangible to the public.

o In addition, the Ministry will actively introduce its sustainable development achievements and efforts at meetings to be held by the United Nations and other international organizations this year, and expand Korea’s constructive contributions by actively participating in major international meetings this year, including the 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF* in July), the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS**, in May), and the 3rd UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs***, in June).

* The High-Level Political Forum is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

** Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are 39 countries that are both environmentally and developmentally vulnerable due to their small territories, limited resources, geographic dispersion and isolation from markets.

*** Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) consist of 32 countries whose economic and social development is severely constrained by physical, geographical and economic isolation due to disconnection from the sea.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will strengthen international solidarity for freedom, peace and prosperity and contribute to resolving the polycrisis facing developing countries through its ODA policy that reflects the Korean government's foreign policy, including the Indo-Pacific Strategy, and the actual needs of those countries.

o The Ministry will promote development cooperation to achieve the SDGs, especially in areas where Korea is comparatively strong, such as digitalization and response to climate change, and will strengthen cooperation with various actors, including civil society, academia and private companies, throughout the process.

4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to fulfill its roles and obligations as a responsible member of the international community, vigorously participate in the international community's efforts to strengthen Korea’s role and status in the international arena, and contribute to accelerating the implementation of the SDGs in cooperation with multilateral organizations such as the United Nations.