The South Korean government has included $100 million in financial support for Ukraine in its draft state budget for 2027. This was reported by The JoongAng newspaper, citing budgetary planning data. The decision comes amid ongoing diplomatic friction between Seoul and Kyiv related to the disclosure of information about the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. The request to include these expenditures in the budget was submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
Increase in Contributions to NATO Trust Fund
According to The JoongAng, South Korea's contribution to the NATO Security Assistance Fund is planned to be increased nearly threefold—from $16.7 million this year to $50 million in 2027. Funding for targeted humanitarian support projects will grow fourfold to reach $20 million. An additional $30 million is provided under a program to assist countries affected by armed conflicts. Thus, the total volume of funds earmarked in the 2027 budget for the Ukrainian track amounts to $100 million.
Mechanisms and Directions of Spending
South Korea began transferring contributions to the NATO Trust Fund in 2024. According to available data, Seoul allocated $34 million to this track during 2024–2025. Humanitarian aid is focused on three key sectors: healthcare, energy, and the restoration of educational institutions. Funds are disbursed through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and United Nations structures, particularly the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Parliamentary and Foreign Ministry Positions
Head of the parliamentary committee Sung Seok-jun publicly urged officials not to sever bilateral contacts with Ukraine. "We cannot allow recent diplomatic frictions to erase previous cooperation achievements. The government must balance bilateral relations through a measured position, taking into account medium- and long-term national interests, including future participation in reconstruction projects," he stated. A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in turn, assured that the country's government, "as a responsible member of the international community, will continue to strictly adhere to its principled position in support of Ukraine."
Diplomatic Background and Upcoming Meetings
The diplomatic dispute between Kyiv and Seoul escalated after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at the UN General Assembly about the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Republic of Korea President Lee Jae-myung stated that the disclosure of this information violated a previously reached confidentiality agreement. Despite this incident, according to diplomatic sources, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will meet with his South Korean counterpart Cho Hyun in Paris for a face-to-face meeting at the level of foreign ministers.
Context: From Promise to Budget Line
The decision to include $100 million in the 2027 budget is a logical continuation of a public promise made by President Lee Jae-myung in July of this year when he announced his intention to increase aid to Ukraine. The transition from a political statement to concrete budget allocations indicates that Seoul is institutionalizing its support for Kyiv, securing it in long-term financial planning. This occurs at a time when diplomatic relations between the two countries are undergoing a stress test due to the prisoner of war incident, but judging by statements from both parliamentary and government sources, both sides strive to maintain the trajectory of cooperation.
