With more than 1,300 academics and practitioners, KAIDEC has established itself as a leading and internationally recognized academic organization in the field of development cooperation in Korea, combining academic depth with practical experience since its founding in 2007. KAIDEC is dedicated to conducting rigorous academic research and field-based practices to promote development and alleviate poverty in partner countries. In particular, we engage with critical global issues such as development, underdevelopment, poverty, marginalization, disasters, and conflict resolution.

As President, I aim to focus on KAIDEC’s inclusivity, scholarship, and internationalization in 2025. I am pleased to introduce four key directions for KAIDEC’s operations:

1. Expanding Inclusivity
The field of international development cooperation thrives through collaboration with diverse stakeholders. KAIDEC will establish structures to allow greater member participation, thereby enhancing the academic strength of our Association. We aim to expand KAIDEC’s outreach by fostering partnerships with various organizations and addressing emerging topics such as artificial intelligence in development cooperation and the intersection of migration and development.

2. Enhancing Academic Quality
The foundation of any academic society lies in intellectual inquiry and theoretical reflection. KAIDEC will lead the discourse on development studies by addressing fundamental issues of development and underdevelopment, deepening research in regions such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and broadening our academic scope. We will improve the quality of our conferences and journals, promote research innovation, and contribute to the effectiveness of development cooperation through field-oriented research and policy recommendations that incorporate the voices of partner countries.

3. Strengthening Internationalization
Korea’s experiences in democracy, economic growth, social development, and international development cooperation?despite being a latecomer?have drawn significant attention from the global community. KAIDEC will enhance international discussions on development cooperation through partnerships with global organizations, publish research in leading international journals, and strengthen ties with scholars and researchers from partner countries. Our goal is to establish KAIDEC as a hub of the international academic network in development cooperation.

4. Vitalizing the Development Cooperation Ecosystem
Building a robust development cooperation ecosystem remains a critical challenge. Effective development cooperation relies on exceptional performance, and it is the responsibility of the academic community to nurture highly skilled and professional human resources. KAIDEC will work to foster a thriving development cooperation ecosystem, create quality jobs, and explore practical strategies to enhance the fairness, accountability, and effectiveness of development initiatives.

The growth of individuals drives the growth of the Association. Organizational progress is only possible when its members develop and thrive. Through collaboration and continuous learning, KAIDEC will advance the value of academia and support efforts to eradicate global poverty.