LALITPUR, Feb 13: The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) organised a handover ceremony on Thursday to mark the deployment of four new Korea Overseas Volunteers (KOVs) to various institutions across Nepal.
The ceremony, held in Lalitpur, was attended by representatives from KOICA, recipient organisations and the newly arrived volunteers. The four KOVs arrived in Nepal on January 13 and completed a four-week adaptation training programme in Lalitpur prior to their deployment.
Sang Ik Jeon has been assigned to the Institute of Engineering, Thapathali Campus, in the automobile sector. Yeon Il Kim will serve at Shree Adarsha Secondary School in Ilam under the primary education sector. Jaesik Lee has been deployed to the Nepal Red Cross Society’s Provincial Blood Transfusion Service in Dhangadhi in the field of medical laboratory technology, while Seungchul Kang has been assigned to Godawari Municipality to support the tourism sector.
KOICA hosts volunteers handover ceremony and consultative works...
In addition, Jeong Dae Kim has been deployed as a KOICA advisor to Thapathali Campus in the electronics and networking sector. He arrived in Nepal on January 21 along with the new batch of volunteers.
According to KOICA, the KOV programme aims to transfer Korean knowledge and expertise at the grassroots level. The initiative seeks to improve the quality of life in partner countries, strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between Korea and its partners, and contribute to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals.
Deputy Country Director of the KOICA Nepal Office, Sujin Yeo, expressed appreciation to the recipient organisations for their continued cooperation and support. She said the ceremony marked not only the beginning of the volunteers’ service but also underscored the vital role of host institutions in ensuring effective guidance and collaboration.
Emphasising KOICA’s commitment to strong partnerships—particularly with schools and public institutions—Yeo highlighted knowledge transfer, institutional strengthening, mutual learning and cultural exchange as key pillars of sustainable development. She encouraged recipient organisations to provide clear objectives, well-defined roles and a supportive working environment to maximise the impact of the volunteer programme.
Since 1990, KOICA has deployed volunteers to various government institutions across Nepal, both within and outside the Kathmandu Valley, at the request of the Government of Nepal. The volunteers have contributed to sectors including education, health, agriculture, information technology and tourism.
To date, 499 KOICA volunteers have been dispatched to Nepal. Currently, 11 volunteers and two advisors are serving in government institutions in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kaski, Baglung, Rupandehi, Kailali and Ilam. The KOICA Nepal Office said it remains committed to adhering to health and security protocols while implementing the KOV programme.
