"Criticism of Yoon's 'Blood Tax Sharing' ODA Serious" Budget Subcommittee Clashes Over Aid Budget [K Aid Tracker]

Opposition: "Require Board of Audit and Inspection Review for Poor ODA"
Ruling Party: "Means to Strengthen National Interest, Increased Regardless of Past Governments"

The ruling and opposition parties clashed over next year's public development assistance (ODA) project budget, which has increased to an all-time high. The Democratic Party of Korea directly criticized the fragmentation and irregular execution of the ODA budget, while the People Power Party countered by emphasizing the long-term national interest of ODA projects.

According to political circles on the 17th, during the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee meeting the previous day, the opposition focused their attack on the reality that the ODA budget was divided among all ministries and that budget execution took place without the signing of consultation minutes. Democratic Party lawmaker Heo Young said, “Including the fact that numerous projects have been executed without consultation minutes, it is judged that the Board of Audit and Inspection has not properly audited these projects,” adding, “I believe that additional audits by the Board of Audit and Inspection should be requested and conducted at the Budget Committee level.”

Heo Young, member of the Democratic Party of Korea

He criticized that since 2010, 77,017 projects have been unmanaged, and the project shares of KOICA and EDCF have each decreased by 20 percentage points, with the reduced amounts being loosely executed by other ministries. Lawmaker Heo pointed out, “President Yoon Suk-yeol restructured the budget to prevent ‘budget splitting,’ which also reduced the technology and development (R&D) budget, but the ODA budget, where irregular execution is rampant, is being fragmented among ministries, intensifying ‘budget splitting.’”

Criticism also arose that further verification of standards and procedures related to ODA is necessary. Lawmaker Lee Won-taek from the same party said, “Domestic projects undergo preliminary feasibility studies for verification, but it is unclear what kind of verification ODA undergoes,” adding, “This should be an opportunity to improve the system by clarifying standards, procedures, and requirements.” Lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon also mentioned, “We need to review the validity, effectiveness, and detailed project plans of each ODA project.”

The ruling party emphasized the necessity and validity of ODA. People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hee-gon said, “ODA projects should be viewed differently from R&D because Korea has transformed from a ‘recipient country’ to a ‘donor country,’ and all past governments have expanded it,” noting, “It is a contribution to the world, so it cannot be approached as strictly as domestic R&D. It should be understood as a way to strengthen our diplomatic capabilities and enhance national prestige.” Lawmaker Song Seok-jun added, “There are many effects of ODA that the public is unaware of. The achievements so far and expected future outcomes should be thoroughly communicated to serve as effective public relations.”

Heegon Kim, member of the People Power Party

Oh Young-joo, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated, “National strategic planning projects are all based on the confirmed needs of recipient countries,” and mentioned that the submitted ODA budget proposal had gone through the Grant Aid Related Agencies Council and the International Development Cooperation Committee. Vice Minister Oh responded, “I will carefully address any questions based on the submitted materials.”