The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a USD 17 million core contribution from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), bolstering its ability to deliver lifesaving assistance to vulnerable communities around the world.
Core funding allows WFP to allocate resources where they are needed most, enabling rapid and strategic responses. This includes anticipatory action ahead of disasters, swift food procurement and delivery during emergencies, and reaching high-risk areas with limited access.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Government and people of the Republic of Korea, WFP is able to provide lifesaving aid to vulnerable communities worldwide,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “Core funding allows us to deliver immediate assistance where hunger is most acute. The ROK’s support is making a real difference across a wide range of emergencies.”
The partnership between WFP and the ROK spans more than six decades. Following the Korean War, WFP provided food assistance and development programmes in the country from 1964 to 1984, helping lay the foundation for recovery and growth. Today, the ROK has become one of WFP’s top five government donors, giving back to the international community the support it once received.
In 2025, the ROK’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also launched the REACH initiative (Responding with Emergency Assistance for Conflict-Affected Households), providing USD 37 million in emergency food and nutrition support to four countries on the frontlines of conflict and disaster.
Currently, 318 million people worldwide face severe food insecurity – double pre-pandemic levels. With humanitarian needs rising and global funding declining, the Republic of Korea’s contribution is set to play a pivotal role in protecting lives and alleviating hunger where it is most urgent.
