Introduction: Germany and Korea as Partners in International Development and Green Transitions

This chapter introduces the book and its three parts, which explore the alignment of global sustainable development priorities between Germany and the Republic of Korea. Notably, both nations share a common commitment to development policy and international climate action, an alignment that holds immense potential for enhanced cooperation in today’s evolving global landscape. Germany's historical role as a founding member of the international development cooperation system juxtaposes with Korea's more recent entry into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and its Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2010. Korea has transformed from a significant development assistance recipient to an active provider, a transition mirrored in its engagement in international climate finance.