Whereas in 1995, after more than 40 years the Republic of Korea (South Korea) successfully ended its reliance on international assistance and in 2000 was removed from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee recipient list; Whereas after the Korean War, South Korea was the recipient of and relied on official development assistance; Whereas over time South Korea’s economy grew and transformed, attracted foreign investment, and promoted infrastructure and industrial development; Whereas South Korea is now the world’s 15th largest economy, the world’s 6th largest exporter, and the United States 6th largest trading partner; Whereas the strong United States-South Korea alliance is based on shared values, including democracy and human rights, economic prosperity, and mutual strategic interests; Whereas the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty remains a steadfast pillar of the United States-South Korea alliance; Whereas South Korea’s remarkable democratic transition has resulted in 7 Presidential elections and 6 peaceful transitions of power since the new constitution was adopted in 1987; Whereas in 1987, South Korea established the Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund to support economic development in developing countries through the provision of loan programs; Whereas in 1991, South Korea established the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to administer foreign assistance, with a focus on addressing poverty and sustainable socioeconomic growth throughout the world; Whereas in 1997, the International Vaccine Institute was established in Seoul as an autonomous international organization under the Vienna Convention to develop and deliver vaccines around the globe; Whereas in 2009, South Korea formally created the World Friends Korea program, which sends volunteers across the globe to assist developing countries, connect different cultures, and increase international cooperation and understanding