Key facts
- South Korea's foreign ministry plans to increase its cybersecurity budget from 3.8 billion won to 15.5 billion won for 2027.
- This increase follows a cyberattack in July that may have exposed data on up to 10,000 diplomats and staff.
- The ministry's official development assistance (ODA) budget will decrease by 1% to 2.16 trillion won in 2027.
- ODA will be refocused on strategic areas including AI, culture, technology, and supply chains.
- Funding for overseas diplomatic missions will increase by 60% to 9.7 billion won.
South Korea's foreign ministry is proposing a significant increase in its cybersecurity budget for the upcoming year, aiming to more than quadruple it to 15.5 billion won from 3.8 billion won. This move comes in response to a major cyberattack detected in July on the Korea National Diplomatic Academy's online training system, which is believed to have compromised information on up to 10,000 diplomats and overseas mission staff.
The ministry's overall budget proposal for 2027 is 3.7 trillion won, a 2.4 percent increase from the previous year's 3.62 trillion won. The enhanced cybersecurity funding is earmarked for upgrading information protection systems, security monitoring, and strengthening the overall cybersecurity framework.
Concurrently, the ministry's budget for official development assistance (ODA) is slated for a 1 percent reduction, falling to 2.16 trillion won in 2027. This marks the second consecutive year of decline for ODA spending. The government intends to redirect ODA resources towards areas aligned with the nation's strategic interests and competitive strengths, such as artificial intelligence (AI), culture, technology, and supply chains. An official cited efforts to improve ODA program quality and effectiveness, including project consolidation and restructuring of underperforming initiatives.
Funding for the maintenance and improvement of overseas diplomatic missions is set to rise by 60 percent to 9.7 billion won, aimed at bolstering the safety of diplomatic facilities and protecting South Korean nationals abroad during emergencies. Additionally, the ministry seeks to allocate 2.3 billion won for preparations for South Korea's 2028 G20 presidency and 1.5 billion won for AI diplomacy initiatives.