“Everyone is a Good Neighbor”
On March 28, 1991, Good Neighbors took its first steps with a mission to be a Good Neighbor to those in need.
With the vision of creating a world free from hunger and fostering a society where people live together in harmony,
Good Neighbors was established in South Korea 34 years ago. Today, it is a leading global NGO operating in 51 countries worldwide.
As Good Neighbors celebrates its 34th anniversary, let’s take a look back at the journey it has walked alongside good neighbors worldwide.
“We will not only provide material aid to the impoverished and marginalized but also carry out sustainable and professional development projects that go beyond temporary relief.”
Following the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea gained global recognition, and a new perspective emerged: Korea should transition from an aid recipient to an aid donor. Driven by this sense of mission, Good Neighbors (then Korea Neighborly Love Association) was founded in 1991, marking the beginning of a homegrown Korean NGO dedicated to global humanitarian efforts.
Starting with just 128 members, Good Neighbors has since grown to a network of 807,000 members across 51 countries, striving to bring positive change to the world.
Just one year after its founding, Good Neighbors embarked on its first international relief and development project in Bangladesh. The organization introduced advanced agricultural techniques to impoverished rural communities and established a maternal and child health center in Dhaka’s slums to support women and children.
This marked the realization of Good Neighbors’ dream: to leverage the strength of Korean people to support global communities. Today, Good Neighbors is recognized as a key player in international development cooperation, operating in 34 community development countries with 212 project sites dedicated to child rights protection and sustainable community development.
Good Neighbors first engaged in emergency relief in 1993, responding to the Somali civil war. The following year, it became the first Korean NGO to send medical teams to Goma, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), to provide urgent aid during the Rwandan civil war.
Since then, Good Neighbors has continued its humanitarian efforts in global crises, including the 2004 South Asian tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
Beyond immediate relief, Good Neighbors focuses on long-term recovery and reconstruction by building networks with local communities and governments, fostering trust, and implementing sustainable, community-led development initiatives.
On August 26, 1996, at the UN Headquarters in New York, Good Neighbors became the first Korean NGO to be granted General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This prestigious status recognized the organization’s professionalism and effectiveness in international relief and development, particularly in Bangladesh and Rwanda.
Since then, Good Neighbors has submitted quadrennial reports on its activities to maintain this status and has actively participated in the annual UN DPI/NGO conferences, contributing to global policy discussions and strengthening international networks.
Since its early days, Good Neighbors has been dedicated to providing educational opportunities for children in developing countries, believing that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. The organization has built schools, trained teachers, and developed educational programs to ensure that every child has access to quality education.
In recognition of these efforts, Good Neighbors received the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Award in 2007. The award particularly honored its contributions toward achieving MDG Goal 2: Universal Primary Education.
This milestone not only highlighted Good Neighbors’ impact but also reinforced South Korea’s growing role in international humanitarian efforts.
"Everyone connected under the Good Neighbors name, our supporters, members, and clients, are part of our service and commitment, embodying what Good Neighbors stands for. By adhering to fundamental principles and working with skill, integrity, and purpose, we continue to become a driving force for change in the world."
For 34 years, Good Neighbors has worked hand in hand with communities, donors, volunteers, corporations, and partner organizations worldwide to create meaningful and lasting change.
From its humble beginnings in South Korea to its widespread impact across the globe, Good Neighbors continues to stand by children and communities in need, embodying the belief that WE ARE ALL GOOD NEIGHBORS.
Good Neighbors is an international humanitarian and development organization founded in 1991, working in over 50 countries to make the world a place without hunger and where people live in harmony. Engaging with over 200 communities globally, we empower people and transform communities through social and economic development initiatives. Good Neighbors has General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) since 1996.
For further information, please contact Good Neighbors Global Partnership Center.
Our initiatives for a more sustainable world are ongoing globally. Please join the initiative at your nearest Good Neighbors office. Once you make your selection, you will be redirected to its webpage.
