Green Digital Transformation and Korea’s Cooperation Strategy with Developing Countries

Amid the accelerating global trends of green transformation (GX) to address climate change and digital transformation (DX) driven by technological progress, the need for an integrated approach to these two transitions has become increasingly important. In this context, the concept of green digital transformation, or the twin transformation, has emerged as a key policy agenda, defined as an approach that simultaneously promotes climate response through digital technologies and the decarbonization and greening of digital transformation itself. Digital technologies can serve as powerful enablers of green transformation. They improve climate early warning systems, enhance energy efficiency, support smart grids, and facilitate more effective environmental monitoring. At the same time, however, digital transformation also generates new environmental pressures, including increased energy and water consumption and growing volumes of electronic waste. Such duality highlights the importance of pursuing digital and green transformation in an integrated manner rather than as separate policy agendas. Although middle- and high-income developing countries are showing growing demand for both green and digital transformation, policy strategies and support mechanisms for integrated green digital transformation remain limited. To address this gap, Oh et al. (2025) proposes Korea’s international development cooperation strategies and policy directions for promoting green digital transformation as an initial step toward cooperation with developing countries. The purpose of this report is to present the main findings of Oh et al. (2025), which draws on international policy discussions, cross-country analyses, major donor strategies, and developing countries’ needs and constraints.