Port Moresby, December 15, 2025

Papua New Guinea and the Republic of Korea have taken a significant step in strengthening their bilateral ties by signing the Framework Agreement for Grant Aid. The Agreement was formalized on the margins of the 6th Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Seoul, on December 9, 2025.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Justin Tkatchenko, signed the agreement on behalf of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. This agreement will enable cooperation and facilitate the re-establishment of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Office in Port Moresby, for effective management and coordination of Official Korean Development Grant Aid Assistance to PNG.

The KOICA Office in Port Moresby was closed around 2012. Recognizing the need for increased cooperation, both governments agreed to negotiate its return – a process that took four (4) years to conclude.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Tkatchenko acknowledged the Government of the Republic of Korea for recognizing the importance of the Agreement and for its quick response to conclude the deal.

The Minister noted that the signing was critically a formality, as Korea had already signalled its commitment by appointing KOICA Country Director, Ms. Jeong-Eun Song, who had visited PNG and met with him in November 2025.

“One of the key parts of this Agreement is the implementation of Article 5, the establishment of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Papua New Guinea,” Minister Tkatchenko stated.

He explained that the Agreement outlines the general terms of development cooperation, and that specific grant aid programs and related development financing will be pursued through subsequent, mutually agreed-upon arrangements.

While acknowledging Korea’s plan to contribute to the Pacific Resilience Facility, Minister Tkatchenko conveyed PNG’s readiness to soon implement the visa on arrival for the diplomatic, official and ordinary passport holders of the Republic of Korea.

Highlighting Korea’s importance as a strategic partner, Minister Tkatchenko urged for the Port Moresby KOICA office to serve as the hub for Pacific regional development cooperation.

The Minister appreciated the establishment of the KOICA Office in Port Moresby and reaffirmed the Marape-Rosso Government’s commitment to support KOICA’s development cooperation program, both within PNG and across the region moving forward.