South Korea, Foreign Aid, and UN Peacekeeping:Contributing to International Peace and Security as a Middle Power

For many years, South Korea was largely a consumer of security, protected and supported by the United States and others to ensure peace and stability on the peninsula. South Korea’s economic takeoff and ascent as a rising middle power has changed these circumstances and as the years progressed, the Republic of Korea increased its contributions to international peace and security becoming more of a provider of global security than solely a consumer. Two areas where South Korea has made particularly important contributions have been in international development assistance and peace keeping operations. Though these contributions are significant, South Korea continues to lag behind other foreign assistance donors relative to the size of its economy. Yet, South Korea’s increases to development assistance have been substantial and larger than most in the midst of the global economic turmoil, and it remains a staunch supporter of peacekeeping operations.