Ex-mayor Oh to advise Lima officials under ODA program

Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will be dispatched to Lima, Peru, by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to advise its municipal administration.

On Friday, Oh completed the overseas aid agency’s weeklong education course for advisers being sent to developing countries. The agency launched the advisory group in a ceremony at the training center for World Friends Korea in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. In the event, he received a certificate of course completion from KOICA president Kim Young-mok on behalf of the advisory delegates.

He is scheduled to be dispatched to the city hall of Lima early next month or by late January at the latest after consultation with Peruvian authorities, officials said. He will advise Lima officials for six months.

His consultation will cover mid- and long-term urban development plans, policy development and implementation for sustainable economic growth, environmental issues, urban planning and legal systems.

The dispatch of advisers is an Official Development Assistance (ODA) program which utilizes retired Koreans’ knowledge and experience to help developing countries in fighting poverty and developing society.

KOICA qualifies retirees with 10 years or more of experience in related fields that apply for the program. The agency gives every adviser $4,000 for housing and living costs and $500 in other expenses each month.

Oh and 20 other advisers will be sent to 15 countries starting next month. The group is the ninth to be dispatched.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)