The South Korean government has allocated $100 million in aid for Ukraine in the draft state budget for 2027, despite the diplomatic crisis that has arisen between the states over POWs from the DPRK, reports The JoongAng.
The publication shared that this decision was made after President Lee Jae-myung announced in July a promise to help Ukraine. According to the publication, the request to include the expenditures was submitted by South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the data, Seoul's contribution to the NATO Trust Fund is planned to be increased almost threefold – from $16.7 million in the current year to $50 million in 2027.
Thus, funding for targeted humanitarian support projects will increase fourfold and reach $20 million. Moreover, another $30 million has been earmarked within the framework of the aid program for countries affected by armed conflicts.
Notably, the NATO Trust Fund has been operating since 2016 for the reconstruction of Ukraine and the prompt supply of non-lethal military equipment.
Since 2024, South Korea began paying contributions to the fund. These funds go toward the treatment of wounded Ukrainian soldiers and the construction of military rehabilitation hospitals. Data is cited that during 2024–2025, Seoul transferred $34 million in this area.
At the same time, humanitarian aid is focused on healthcare, energy, and the restoration of educational institutions. The funds are allocated through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and UN structures, in particular UNDP.
However, South Korean observers have doubts about whether it will be possible to fully realize the potential of the aid and involve Korean business in the future reconstruction of Ukraine due to the acute diplomatic crisis between the states.
In particular, the head of the parliamentary committee, Song Seok-jun, called on officials not to break off bilateral contacts:
"We must not allow recent diplomatic frictions to nullify previous achievements of cooperation. The government must balance bilateral relations through a considered position, taking into account medium- and long-term national interests, including future participation in reconstruction projects."
In addition, the spokesperson of South Korea's Foreign Ministry assured that the country's government "as a responsible member of the international community will continue to steadfastly adhere to its principled position on supporting Ukraine."
Scandal over DPRK POWs: what is known
UNIAN previously reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly disclosed the fact of handing over two captured North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. As the South Korean side claimed, the countries agreed not to disclose this fact. Ukraine captured these two North Koreans in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025.
We also wrote that after this, South Korea recalled one of its International Cooperation Agency employees from Ukraine. According to an official statement, this decision was made for security reasons – due to intensified Russian shelling of Kyiv.
It is known that the South Korean authorities recalled part of their embassy staff from Ukraine. South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) explained this step by saying it had not received a "constructive response" from the Ukrainian side regarding an issue related to North Korean prisoners of war.