The South Korean government has finalized 159 programs for its official development assistance to developing countries, as part of an effort to provide each recipient with customized aid, the Prime Minister's Office said Friday.

The selected 159 programs under one of the four categories -- economy, society, governance and future-oriented issues -- were made based upon Seoul's development experiences over the past six decades with the aim of contributing to recipient countries' self-reliance and sustainable development, according to the PMO.

With the help of international aid, the country has risen from the rubble of the 1950-53 Korean War to become a vibrant democracy within the ranks of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

In the field of economy, the Seoul government decided to help countries establish the foundation for economic development through the construction of transportation and logistics infrastructures and long-term development plans.

In terms of society, priorities include setting up a welfare system and supporting education programs in order to promote a virtuous circle between social and economic development, according to the PMO.

In the realm of governance, Seoul will help recipients strengthen their government's capacity, which will serve as a basis for close cooperation between the public and private entities, the PMO said.

Future issues include the supply of safe drinking water, the establishment of sewage systems, the promotion of woman-oriented policies and the development of information and communications infrastructure, it added.

"The key for South Korea's ODA models is taking full consideration of the different circumstances each country is in, which will allow the programs to give substantial help to recipient countries," Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik said, while presiding over a meeting for the International Development Cooperation Council held earlier in the day.

Along with the action plans, the government approved the so-called Country Partnership Strategy which states detailed measures for the ODA in five countries -- Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Azerbaijan and Ethiopia. Currently, Seoul has such customized ODA plans for nine countries, and plans to make more for 26 additional recipients by next year, the PMO said.

Seoul set aside 1.9 trillion won ($1.64 billion), or 0.15 percent of the country's gross national income for this year's ODA, up from last year's 1.7 trillion won, or 0.13 percent of the country's total income.

The move is part of the country's efforts to double its international development aid to about $3 billion by 2015 to give back after receiving help from the international community. (Yonhap News)