South Korea allocated $15 million to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland: how international aid works
The full-scale Russian invasion forced millions of Ukrainians to leave the country and seek safety abroad. Poland has taken in a significant portion of the refugees, providing them with temporary housing, access to social services, education, and employment. To help Ukrainians, the South Korean government decided to allocate $15 million through the UN Refugee Agency to expand legal, social and economic support for Ukrainian citizens in Poland. This assistance creates opportunities for adaptation in a new environment and increases the chance of independent living in the face of changing legislative and social contexts.
Assignment of funds and areas of support
The main part of the financial contribution is directed to providing legal assistance, social support and consultations for Ukrainian migrants. This includes support in document processing, resolving labor disputes, access to medical and social services, as well as legal support regarding residence and employment.
In addition, the funds will be used for labor market integration programs and preparation for independent business operations. In 2025, South Korea’s contribution of $5 million has already allowed the UN Agency to support Ukrainians in finding jobs and starting their own businesses, which has significantly facilitated their adaptation to the new environment.
The role of Poland and international support
South Korean Ambassador to Poland Jun Yul-tae emphasized that the international community should support the countries that have hosted the largest number of refugees, since they were the ones who bore the main burden of humanitarian assistance. Poland provides housing, medical care, educational programs and social services, but the scale of the problems requires additional resources from other states.
Financial assistance allows for the creation of a more comprehensive support system and expanded access to professional and educational programs for Ukrainian refugees.
A special law that provided additional benefits to Ukrainian refugees ceased to be in effect on March 5, 2026. Now their rights are equal to the rights of other migrants in Poland. At the end of February, Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed a law that establishes the gradual termination of special assistance. For Ukrainians, this means that access to social support, employment and other services will be on an equal footing with other foreign citizens, and in this context, international contributions become even more critical for life support and integration.
Social and economic consequences
Legislative changes and reductions in special benefits increase refugees’ dependence on international assistance, making South Korea’s contribution strategically important. In addition to basic needs, financial support allows Ukrainians to access professional consultations, trainings and legal support, which reduces the risk of social isolation and promotes economic independence.
Such programs help refugees restore stability, get a job in their specialty or start their own business, and also ensure more effective adaptation of children and young people to education.
Support from other countries, as in the case of South Korea, allows Poland to continue humanitarian work and create conditions for the long-term integration of Ukrainians. At the same time, for displaced persons, changes in legislation mean the need to independently plan life and professional steps and use available resources. In this context, financial, social and legal assistance from international partners becomes a key factor in maintaining stability and ensuring opportunities for the development of displaced persons in a new environment.
