SEOUL: The foreign ministry announced on Thursday that its 2025 budget has been finalized at 4.28 trillion won ($2.98 billion), reflecting a 2 percent increase from the current year. This final budget figure, approved by the National Assembly, represents a reduction of 40.6 billion won from the ministry's initial proposal.According to Yonhap News Agency, the approved budget allocates the largest portion, 2.8 trillion won, to official development assistance (ODA). This ODA budget has been reduced by 39.4 billion won, which includes funding adjustments for support to Ukraine. Despite the cuts, the 2025 ODA budget still marks a 39.2 percent increase from last year's allocation, which stood at 2.79 trillion won.Earlier this week, the National Assembly approved next year's national budget of 673.3 trillion won after it was downsized by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP). The budget bill's passage occurred amid significant opposition from the ruling party, with President Yoon Suk Yeol previously citing t he budget reduction as a factor in his decision to invoke martial law the previous week.
- September 13, 2026
