[INTERVIEW] New KOICA chief vows to redesign int'l aid

Lee Mi-kyung, president of Korea International Cooperation Agency / Courtesy of KOICA

By Choi Ha-young

Lee Mi-kyung was one of the female activists devoted to developing women's studies in the 1970s and 80s, sponsored by official development assistance (ODA) given through a German organization, the Protestant Association for Cooperation in Development. Back in the days of authoritarianism, she and her colleagues learned women's studies are intrinsically "action-oriented," which provided theoretical foundation for up-and-coming activists.

Now, newly inaugurated as president of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Lee is spearheading the government organ for ODA, challenged to reboot the scandal-hit organization.

KOICA was in the middle of last year's so-called Choi Soon-sil scandal which led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. Choi is accused of influencing KOICA's ODA project in Myanmar for her own benefit. Choi is also under judiciary process for her alleged embezzlement through the Mir Foundation's participation in Park's iconic "Korea aid" project in Africa.

"It's time to get back to basics to erect the principles and philosophy of implementing ODA projects," Lee said in a recent interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in central Seoul.

The former five-term lawmaker, the first politician to head KOICA, was upbeat on revamping the agency. "To make a new leap forward amid hardships, my experience in political affairs and women's rights movement would be a great asset," she said.

In her Nov. 29 inauguration speech, Lee accentuated "renovation" of the organization. As a part of the efforts, an "innovation committee" composed of 15 experts from civic society and academia is looking into the past management of KOICA. In reforming the organization, she vowed not to be swayed by political powers.

"The so-called Saemaul ODA programs under ex-President Park, which were committed to honor her father's legacy, ended in failure because they were excessively politically motivated. Many former administrations created such projects named after the administration's policy goals, without a philosophy," Lee said.

However, Lee said she will uphold some Saemaul ODA projects which have had positive effects. "Fundamentally, KOICA should abandon groundless arrogance that Korea's successful attempts will work in partner countries. Each country has distinctive circumstances and Korea's successful model has dark sides as well."

Peace, democracy, human rights and gender equality

As specific goals, she put forward ODA to deliver peace, democracy, human rights and gender equality ― which coincides with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The keyword of her inauguration speech was last year's "candlelit protests" out of respect for those who took to the streets to rebuild the nation's transparency and justice.

"Delivering those values is what Korea can really contribute to recipient countries, based on the country's achievements in economic growth and democratization. I palpably feel international expectations regarding this, particularly in tandem with the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration as a result of the candlelit demonstrations."

The ambition dates back to her early advocacy for women's rights and peace. In the 1990s, Lee led a campaign to enhance international awareness about wartime sexual slavery by imperial Japan. In 1999, Lee, then a political rookie, was expelled from her party for voting in favor of sending peacekeeping troops to East Timor, in opposition to her party's official stance.

"In an interview to be the chief of KOICA, I was grilled whether developing countries would be favorable to bettering their human rights status. I think democracy and human rights don't necessarily mean criticism of governments. As Korean civic groups owe ODA projects, KOICA can empower the grassroots movements of ordinary citizens."

For her three-year term, Lee said KOICA will focus on intensive aid programs rather than expanding its partner countries. Particularly in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, where President Moon has vowed to improve ties, KOICA will continue its projects in line with the President's "New Southern Policy."

Lee is also agonizing over how to contribute to the unification of the Korean Peninsula through ODA. She said she would not elaborate on KOICA's possible role in inter-Korean relations for now.

"However, I am looking forward to making use of our experience in development cooperation in supporting North Korea ― one of the poorest nations in the world in transition to a market economy."

As a possible measure, she floated multilateral cooperation. "In supporting politically delicate regions, for example Rohingya, countries could approach via multilateral organizations. We could do so in helping North Korea by collecting funds with other countries. I believe North Korea issues could be solved amid multilateral engagements, rather than an inter-Korean approach."

Fragmentation of ODA

Her priority is resolving the fragmentation of ODA ― administrative division of ODA funds across ministries and agencies. As mentioned in a Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) report issued in May, the problem with ODA is considered to be inefficiency and unreliability.

Chronic problems have not been solved in the face of each governmental body's will to run its own ODA program to maximize its staff members' global experience by funding international organizations. As of 2017, 42 organizations are pushing ahead with about 1,200 projects, without a proper control tower to review the projects' overlaps. Amid the competition, pundits say KOICA has failed to demonstrate leadership.

Lee believes her experience as a lawmaker would be helpful in coordinating each government body's interests. "I know it's hard to generate a quick solution. First, I will meet many parties concerned. It would require political leadership," she said.

"I view the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should take the helm as a control tower of ODA programs. KOICA can serve as a platform between government bodies in designing projects, examining the achievement and compensating the projects afterwards."

She added, "This argument is not for KOICA's own sake. Each body's will to participate in ODA is desirable, but overall supervision is needed to ensure strategic direction to satisfy recipient countries' needs."

In 2008, Japan International Cooperation Agency combined its grant and loans. "For now, KOICA will make efforts to consolidate grants, but consolidating grant and loans is an ultimate object," she said.

Seoul is also challenged to increase its ODA amount, closer to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average of 0.7 percent of gross national income (GNI). Currently, Korea's ODA/GNI rate hovers around 0.16 percent and Lee offered to accomplish the goal by 2030. "The important task is gaining taxpayers' support in increasing the budgets. At the same time, I think society needs to cultivate global citizenship education," Lee said.

"To achieve such a mission, KOICA should improve our expertise and transparency in discovering, conducting and examining projects. After three years, I wish to be remembered as a leader who created a springboard for its new start."