South Korea plans to allocate $100 million to Ukraine: funds included in draft 2027 budget
The South Korean government has earmarked $100 million in aid for Ukraine in its draft 2027 budget despite unresolved diplomatic disputes.
Censor.NET reports, citing JoongAng Ilbo, which cited diplomatic sources and the office of Song Seok-jun, chair of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.
Details
The move fulfills a pledge that President Lee Jae-myung made in July to support Ukraine, the outlet reported.
The report noted doubts about whether aid on this scale would translate into practical cooperation, such as participation in future reconstruction projects, given that diplomatic disputes between the two countries remain unresolved.
According to the outlet, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested that the funding be included in the budget. Seoul plans to nearly triple its contribution to the NATO trust fund from $16.7 million this year to $50 million in 2027. Funding for targeted humanitarian aid projects will quadruple to $20 million. A further $30 million has been earmarked to support countries affected by armed conflict.
NATO trust fund for Ukraine
The NATO trust fund has operated since 2016 to support Ukraine’s recovery and expedite the delivery of nonlethal military equipment. Participating countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. South Korea has contributed to the fund since 2024, directing its funding toward treating wounded Ukrainian service members and building military rehabilitation hospitals. Seoul contributed $34 million to the fund in 2024–2025.
Humanitarian aid goes primarily to sectors such as energy, health care, and education. It is provided either in kind (through the Korea International Cooperation Agency, KOICA) or as financial assistance through international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Background
- In an address to the UN General Assembly, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had recently transferred two North Korean prisoners of war captured on the battlefield to South Korea.
- In December 2025, two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces during combat wrote a letter asking to be allowed to go to South Korea. On January 11, 2025, it emerged that Ukrainian forces had captured two North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region.
- South Korea subsequently accused Zelenskyy of disclosing the covert operation to transfer the North Korean prisoners.
- Presidential Office later denied that Ukraine had agreed with South Korea to keep the transfer of the North Korean prisoners of war confidential.
- Seoul nevertheless said it was demanding an apology.
- On August 28, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s acting ambassador in Seoul, Andrii Vieshkin.
- South Korea threatened to take "additional measures" against Ukraine over the North Korean prisoners.
- In October, South Korea received a message of apology from Ukraine for disclosing the transfer of the two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
- On October 8, it emerged that South Korea was recalling its ambassador to Ukraine.
