Aid for Security: South Korea’s ODA to Africa

This study deals with South Korea’s foreign aid to African countries. Specifically, we discuss the impact of security concerns in determining official development assistance (ODA) policy focusing on the case of South Korea’s ODA policy in Africa. Based on a case study of South Korea’s ODA to African countries, we challenge the monistic approach in defining a donor’s aid motivation and highlight the diverse nature of a donor country’s motivation for giving aid. Theoretically, this study revisits the close interlink and nature of security and development and emphasizes the importance of bringing “security” back into the discussion of ODA. Based on a historical method, we analyze South Korea’s ODA policy from a security perspective and provide an in-depth discussion of South Korea’s aid for security in Africa. Specifically, we argue that a security goal, specifically, to support the US global strategy and check the expansion of North Korea’s influence in Africa has been one of the key motivations of South Korean ODA to Africa.