Former presidential security official named new KOICA chief

Detailed summary

SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- Oh Hyun-joo, former third deputy director of the pres...

SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- Oh Hyun-joo, former third deputy director of the presidential National Security Office, has been named to head the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the foreign ministry said Friday.

Oh will formally take office on Monday to lead the agency, which is affiliated with the foreign ministry and responsible for the government's official development assistance (ODA) programs.

After entering the foreign service in 1994, Oh held various posts in development cooperation and multilateral diplomacy, including deputy chief of mission at South Korea's U.N. mission.

She became South Korea's first female ambassador to the Holy See in January 2023 and was appointed third deputy director of the National Security Office in June last year.

"Oh is expected to actively realize KOICA's vision of becoming a leading global development cooperation agency that pursues universal values and shared national interests, while strengthening its role as an integrated platform for South Korea's grant aid programs," the ministry said in a statement.

The KOICA president serves a three-year term and is selected through an open recruitment process and screening by an executive recommendation committee. The president may be reappointed for additional one-year terms.

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