The Korean Journal of Economic Studies
ODA to Korea: Measurement and Comparison
Duol Kim(Myongji University), Sangyun Ryu(LG Economic Research Institute)Year 2014Vol. 62No. 3
Abstract
Korea received a total net ODA of $7.7 billion on a current basis and$45.6 billion on a constant 2010 US dollar basis. Much of this assistance wasprovided before 1980: in a form of grants from 1945 to 1960 and ofconcessional loans to 1980. Compared to developing country recipients aroundthe world in the post-1960s, Korea ranked 20th, meaning that Korea receiveda considerable amount of assistance from donors. However, in terms of theODA receipts per head or the ODA receipts to GDP, Korea ranked in themiddle among all ODA recipients. These findings provide a couple ofimportant implications. First, the hypothesis based on “Big Push” saying thatKorea achieved more successful economic development than other countriesthanks to larger assistance does not hold true. Second, if the assistancecontributes to Korea’s long-term economic development, this means thatKorea used the assistance more efficiently than other countries did or it set theassistance in motion through other paths such as economic stabilization. Theseissues are worth exploring further through follow-up studies.