ABSTRACT
In 2010, South Korea became the 24th member of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development-Development Assistance Committee, which confirmed its developmental status and its rise from former aid recipient to its growing role as a significant donor of foreign aid. Since the 1960s, Korean society has undergone major economic, political, social and cultural transformations due to processes of democratization and globalization. In particular, since the 1990s South Korea has experienced and influenced processes of globalization. Female professionals could encounter uncomfortable situations in the Korean official development assistance (ODA) sector that is still dominated by – often older – men. Both in Korea and in the partner countries there is a danger that such ODA committees perpetuate a certain male domination in the professional field as well as reinforcing more toned-down gender knowledges when they review and decide on ODA policies, programmes and projects.
