2011
» Mekong - ROK Partnership
» Han River Declaration with Six priority areas
» Mekong-ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF)
» ToR of the MI adopted at the 3rd Mekong-ROK Foreign Minister's Meeting
2013
2015
Established in 2011, The Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation represents a dynamic and mutually beneficial partnership between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the countries of the Mekong region, namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam (CLMTV). Strengthened by shared goals of economic development, sustainable growth, and cultural exchange, this collaboration aims to foster regional prosperity, enhance the well-being of the people, narrow the development gap among regional countries, support ASEAN Community building, and address challenges in the Mekong region.
The cooperation is guided by The Plan of Action (PoA) 2021-2025 under the Mekong-RoK Cooperation framework. It serves as a guideline for the Mekong countries and the ROK (the Partner countries) in setting specific goals and measures until 2025 to build a Partnership for People, Prosperity, and Peace, as proclaimed in the Mekong-Han River Declaration adopted at the first Mekong-RoK Summit on November 27, 2019, in Busan, ROK.
The Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI) marks a significant regional policy introduced by the Republic of Korea to strengthen its partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Recognizing ASEAN as a pivotal ally for fostering peace and shared prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, South Korea has aligned KASI within the framework of the Indo-Pacific Strategy. This initiative reflects a commitment to building on existing robust partnerships that span trade and socio-economic cooperation. Emphasizing a comprehensive and strategic partnership with ASEAN, KASI outlines strategic goals to enhance collaboration in various domains, including economic development, regional security, and cultural exchange. The initiative underscores South Korea's dedication to moving beyond traditional partnerships and working towards a more multifaceted and enduring relationship with ASEAN, signaling a commitment to contribute to the broader stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.
To establish the Mekong-Korea Comprehensive Partnership for mutual prosperity, the Han River declaration was agreed during the 1st Mekong-Korea Foreign Minister Meeting (FMM) in 2011—the partnership aimed at promoting friendship and cooperation between the Mekong region countries and the ROK. In addition, the partnership mechanism is also be supported by a Mekong-ROK Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) which will be conducted prior to the Ministers' Meeting. The Mekong-Korea Cooperation has been elevated to the strategic partnership level in 2019 marking its 1st summit in Busan, Korea.
After the initiation of the Mekong–Republic of Korea (ROK) partnership in 2011, the Mekong Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF) was established in 2013 to foster and facilitate collaboration in six priority areas/sectors, as outlined in the Han River Declaration of 2011. These priority areas include: 1) Infrastructure; 2) Information Communication Technology (ICT); 3) Green Growth; 4) Water Resource Development; 5) Agriculture and Rural Development; and 6) Human Resource Development.
In 2019, the Mekong-ROK Foreign Minister Meeting addressed the evolving dynamics and needs of the Mekong countries. Following these discussions, priority areas and sectors for cooperation were identified, encompassing: 1) Culture and Tourism; 2) Information Communication Technology (ICT); 3) Environment; 4) Infrastructure; 5) Agriculture and Rural Development; 6) Human Resource Development; and 7) Non-traditional Security Challenges.
To fund the MKCF, an annual contribution from the ROK to the Mekong Institute (MI) was agreed upon by the five Mekong countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam, and Thailand) and the ROK. The MKCF is managed by Mekong Institute (MI) under the Terms of Reference adopted at the 3rd Mekong – ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting in July 2013 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Furthermore, at the 5th Mekong – ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting in August 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Ministers recognized the necessity for more efficient management of the MKCF and designated Mekong Institute as the Coordinator for the MKCF.
2011
2013
2015
In order to support the implementation of MCKF regional projects, the Mekong Institute is currently implementing a project titled 'Capacity Building on Regional Project Design, Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation of MKCF projects.' The project, spanning three years from January 10, 2023, to January 9, 2026, is funded by the Mekong – ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF). The initiative aims to enhance institutional capacities throughout the entire project cycle management, incorporating systematic monitoring and evaluation processes. By doing so, it aspires to contribute to improved regional cooperation and integration among the Mekong countries and the Republic of Korea. The project's activities are strategically designed to yield both short-term and long-term outcomes, with a focus on enhancing the capabilities of project managers and personnel. The objective is to empower them to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate projects using a results-based approach, ensuring they remain on-budget, on-schedule, on-target, and ultimately achieve the desired results.
Mr. Dong-bae Kim
Director-General for ASEAN and Southeast Asian Affairs, MOFA ROK
Over the last decade, the Mekong-ROK cooperation has made a significant progress. Korea is fully committed to strengthening its cooperation with Mekong region further, as demonstrated by President Yoon Suk Yeol's announcement of the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI) at the ASEAN Related Summits held in Cambodia in November 2022. As part of KASI, the Korean government will double its annual contributions to the MKCF from USD 5 million in 2022 to USD 10 million by 2027. The MKCF is one of the most important mechanisms through which Korea and Mekong countries work together for socio-economic development of the region focusing on the seven priority areas: (i) culture & tourism; (ii) human resources development; (iii) environment; (iv) agriculture & rural development; (v) infrastructure; (vi) information & communication technology; and (vii) non-traditional security challenges.
Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn
(Executive Director)
The Republic of Korea and Mekong countries agreed to set up the Mekong Korea Cooperation Fund in 2013. Since 2015, Mekong Institute has been entrusted to take care of this MKCF project. It should be noted that this MKCF project is not only the distribution of funds to develop project implementation and cooperation, but it could serve as a basis and platform where the Republic of Korea and Mekong countries can bring ideas, to find ways to develop models and expand how this solution could be jointly formulated and fostered so as to address the issue within the region and also at the regional and global level.
Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta
MKCF Director
Mekong Institute
Tel: +66 (0)43202411-2 Ext.2101
Fax: +66 (0) 43 203 656
Email: dutta@mekonginstitute.org
Ms. Mi Jung, IM
Project Coordinator - MKCF
Mekong Institute
M: +82 (0)10 3054 8633 Ext.
Email: mijung.im@mekonginstitute.org
Mr. Ashutosh Kumar Jha
Project Finance Coordinator - MKCF
Mekong Institute
Tel: +66 (0) 43 202 411 Ext. 2104
Fax: +66 (0) 43 203 656
Email: ashutosh@mekonginstitute.org
Ms. Wen Hao
PRIME Project Manager - MKCF
Mekong Institute
Tel: +66 (0) 43 202 411 ext. 2105
Fax: +66 (0) 43 203 656
Email: haowen@mekonginstitute.org
Ms. Bui Thi Mai Ngan
PRIME Project Coordinator- MKCF
Mekong Institute
Tel: +66 (0) 43 202 411, Ext. 2103
Fax: +66 (0) 43 203 656
Email: ngan@mekonginstitute.org
Madhurjya Kumar Dutta
Director, Mekong Korea Cooperation Fund
+66 (0)43 202 411 ext 2101
Khon Kaen, Thailand
Total Users Visited : 4,68,260
© Copyright 2024 MKCF. All Rights Reserved.
Last Updated: 10 May, 2025
