Korea, Republic of

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 18 November 2021

In 2020, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) contributed more than US$545,000 to mine action through the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action (VTF) and ITF Enhancing Human Security.

South Korea is not party to the Mine Ban Treaty nor the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Contributions by recipient: 2020[1]

Recipient

Sector

Amount (US$)

Global (ITF)*

Various

182,682

Nigeria

Various

100,000

Palestine

Risk education

100,000

Afghanistan

Clearance and risk education

60,000

Colombia

Various

54,450

Sudan

Various

50,000

Total

 

547,132

* South Korea’s contribution to ITF was not disaggregated by countries, but went to humanitarian mine action activities in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Palestine, and Serbia.

In 2021, South Korea committed just under $10 million for mine clearance and victim assistance activities in Cambodia for the period 2021–2025.[2]

Mine action assistance approach

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has determined four pillars for its international assistance, known as “4Ps”—people, peace, prosperity, and planet.

At the Mine Ban Treaty Eighteenth Meeting of States Parties, South Korea provided an update on its support to mine action efforts since 1993, with more than $40 million provided to activities in more than 25 countries, including through UNMAS, IFT, or bilaterally.[3]

Five-year support to mine action

Since 2016, South Korea’s contribution totaled more than $7 million but has varied significantly, ranging from an annual low of $300,000 in 2017, to a high of $2.5 million in 2016. In comparison, in the previous five-year period from 2011–2015, South Korea provided $1.2 million.

Summary of contributions: 2016–2020[4]

Year

Amount (US$)

% change from previous year

2020

547,132

-68

2019

1,721,683

-13

2018

1,970,000

+557

2017

300,000

-88

2016

2,500,000

+683

Total

7,038,815

N/A

Note: N/A=not applicable.



[1] ITF Enhancing Human Security, “Annual Report 2020,” 2021, p. 14; and UNMAS, "Annual Report 2020," April 2021, pp. 50–51.

[3] Statement of South Korea, Mine Ban Treaty Eighteenth Meeting of States Parties (held virtually), Geneva, 16–20 November 2021.

[4] See previous Monitor reports.