An administration official said this week that South Korea was seeking to extend the deployment of its troops in South Sudan and Lebanon as part of its contribution to U.N. peacekeeping efforts around the globe. Last week, the Foreign Ministry announced a plan to increase Seoul’s grant aid to less developed countries by 9 percent next year.

These moves can be seen as reflecting South Korea’s will to expand its role in the international community as a middle-power nation. As a country that owes much to international support for its rise from the ruins of the 1950-53 fratricidal war to a major economic powerhouse, it ought to contribute to upholding global peace and prosperity.

South Koreans need to recognize that establishing a good reputation in the global village, in turn, will help consolidate favorable conditions for their own security and external partnerships. Keeping this broader picture in mind, they should take a more positive approach to matters regarding international involvement. It is necessary to avoid allowing fiscal strains and political rivalry at home to excessively hold back Seoul’s efforts to assume a proper international role.

Lawmakers are urged to pass a bill to be submitted by the administration next month to extend the stationing of peacekeeping units in South Sudan and Lebanon by one more year beyond the scheduled expiration at the end of the year. The passage of the bill, like other measures needed to reinvigorate the sluggish economy, should not be held hostage to the prolonged partisan standoff.

The contingents deployed in civil war-hit South Sudan and conflict-ridden Lebanon, which number 290 and 317, respectively, are part of South Korea’s contribution to U.N. peacekeeping missions across the world. The country also has military personnel stationed in Ivory Coast, Haiti, Liberia, Kashmir and Western Sahara to monitor a truce or help with rehabilitation work.

As the world remains plagued with conflicts and grows more dangerous, the role of peacekeepers will become more important. South Korea needs to keep pace with other U.N. member states in strengthening support for operations to enhance global peace and safety for decades to come.

Overseas development aid is another key field where South Korea can and should play a more meaningful role on the global stage.

The country has set aside 2 trillion won ($1.9 billion) for this year’s official development assistance, including grants and loans. The amount accounts for about 0.13 percent of its gross national income, well below its pledge of 0.2 percent made during an ODA conference in Busan in 2011.

Foreign Ministry officials say its plan to increase grant aid from 622.6 billion won this year to 678.8 billion won next year shows Seoul’s commitment to expand its role in the international community. But it still has a long way to go before taking pride in itself as a sincere donor country.

As the only nation that has been transformed from an aid recipient to a donor since the end of World War II, South Korea is in a position to work out and implement its own models to help less-developed countries pull themselves out of poverty and achieve modernization. It may maximize the effect of development aid through an array of programs tailored to meet the specific needs of recipients.

To this end, Seoul needs to strengthen efforts to secure competent staff for effective aid management and enhance the transparency and accountability of assistance policies.