Since the beginning of full-scale russian war against Ukraine, the Republic of Korea has provided Ukraine with various humanitarian and financial support. Seoul has also joined the economic sanctions against russia.

The East Asian country plans to provide Ukraine with a medium- and long-term assistance package of $2.3 billion starting this year. Korea will also donate $50 million to the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for their projects to assist Ukraine.

In 2024, the Korean government allocated $394 million in financial assistance to Ukraine. The aid package from Seoul includes $100 million for reconstruction and about $200 million for humanitarian aid. In addition, another $100 million will be transferred through international organisations.

The Republic of Korea has contributed $12 million to the NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine trust fund to support the construction of a military medical clinical rehabilitation centre.

At the beginning of the year, Ukraine received humanitarian aid from the Government of Korea, the US Agency for International Development USAID, the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves of Poland, and the US Department of State. In particular: 30 ambulances; a medical mobile laboratory and equipment; medical devices; and medicines.

In April 2024, Ukraine received another 70 ambulances from Korea as humanitarian aid, which will be used to provide the necessary assistance to patients who need additional life-sustaining measures during transportation to hospitals in regions close to the frontline. ‘The ambulances are equipped to provide life-saving care to patients during medical transport.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine also received 10 demining vehicles made in Croatia. They were purchased by the Government of the Republic of Korea.

Also, with the support of the Government of Korea, UNDP donated 25 high-voltage 750 kV bushings. This is the largest voltage class used in Ukraine. It is also planned to donate 200 power generators to support Ukraine’s energy sector.

Seoul has officially allocated $14.1 million for the UN Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) humanitarian response and social and legal protection programmes in Ukraine, Poland and Hungary. This funding will enable UNHCR to provide critical assistance and services to people who have been forced to leave their homes or are affected by the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine.

In addition, as part of UNHCR’s humanitarian response and recovery programme in Ukraine, the Government of the Republic of Korea has made an important contribution of $8 million to address the needs of Ukrainian citizens as the population’s needs continue to grow and widespread damage to civilian and energy infrastructure across Ukraine raises concerns about people’s ability to stay warm next winter.

In September 2024, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Foundation for International Health, and the public organisation ‘ASADAL Korean Society’ (Dnipro) provided 855 families from different regions of Ukraine with food packages, hygiene products, and vitamins. By the way, from the beginning of full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, the Korean society ‘ASADAL’ has been sending humanitarian aid to different regions of Ukraine, including Dnipropetrovsk region, for different categories of people, including internally displaced persons and low-income categories of citizens. The organisation regularly sends food packages, clothing, hygiene products, chargers, medical supplies and medicines to the communities of Dnipropetrovsk region.

The Republic of Korea remains an important trading partner of Dnipropetrovsk region. The level of partnership is evidenced by the bilateral analysis of foreign trade.

Korean enterprises are most interested in non-precious metals, machines and equipment, ferrous metal products, essential oils, etc. The volume of goods exports from Dnipropetrovsk region was $6.98, which is 7.1% of the total for Ukraine. Compared to 2022, the volume of exports from Dnipropetrovsk region increased 8.4 times.

11 enterprises in Dnipropetrovsk region exported their products to the Korean market, including metallurgical, chemical, processing and agricultural companies.

The top 5 exporters in terms of exported products are the following:

In turn, 194 importing companies in the region bought Korean goods, including machinery and equipment, essential oils, plastics and polymeric materials, and other goods. Imports of goods from Korea to Dnipropetrovsk region increased by 52.6% to $52.85 million. The region’s share in Ukraine’s imports of goods from the Republic of Korea is 8%.

The following importers were among the top 5 in terms of imported products:

Import operations were mainly carried out by metallurgical and processing enterprises and trade companies. 

Source: Information for this article was taken from open online sources and the website of the Main Department of Statistics in Dnipropetrovsk region.