She criticized Korean aid to Iran. Then a Foreign Ministry official DM'd her.
Published: 19 Apr. 2026, 15:14
Updated: 19 Apr. 2026, 17:13
Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI
![Iranian model and influencer Hoda Niku [SCREEN CAPTURE]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/19/8e800cbb-9f41-4f28-8e8a-97cb72cf2adc.jpg)
Iranian model and influencer Hoda Niku [SCREEN CAPTURE]
Late in the evening on Wednesday, Iranian-born model and influencer Hoda Niku received a direct message (DM) on her Instagram account — not from a loyal fan or an angry detractor but from the director general for development cooperation at the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Niku, a resident of Korea, had criticized Seoul’s decision to provide $500,000 in humanitarian assistance to Tehran. In a post uploaded to her account earlier that day, she argued that the aid “will not go to the people but to a dictatorship responsible for killing 40,000 people and will be used for terrorism or weapons.”
The claim spread rapidly among users unfamiliar with the aid-delivering process and triggered a wave of online debate over whether the Iranian government could divert the funds.
In response, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement, stressing that the aid would be delivered through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and therefore could not be appropriated by the Iranian government. The clarification, however, did little to stem the online backlash.
Nikou later deleted the post amid mounting criticism and explained that she had intended to reflect the frustrations of ordinary Iranians and hoped any aid would reach civilians in need. By then, however, screenshots and reposts had already circulated widely, amplifying skepticism toward the policy.
This prompted an unusual intervention.
Lee Kyoo-ho, the director general for development cooperation at the ministry, logged into a little-used personal Instagram account and sent Niku a DM that night, introducing himself and leaving his phone number for her to contact.
When the pair spoke over the phone the following morning, Lee explained to Niku that the assistance would not be transferred as cash but provided in the form of relief supplies through the ICRC, which independently plans and implements projects, as well as monitors delivery on the ground — all without passing through the Iranian government.
![Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks during a meeting with Korean petrochemical industry representatives at the Korea Chemical Industry Association in Jongno District, central Seoul, on April 17. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/19/af97adc5-615f-41e0-b304-a39da6303d21.jpg)
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks during a meeting with Korean petrochemical industry representatives at the Korea Chemical Industry Association in Jongno District, central Seoul, on April 17. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]
He also told her the ministry coordinated with aid groups, including the Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperation, to ensure the aid was delivered in accordance with the neutrality of the ICRC and its operating procedures.
After the call, Niku posted on Instagram that she had “misunderstood” the nature of the aid being sent to Iran and thanked Lee for helping clarify the issue.
The episode marked a rare instance of a government official bypassing formal press channels to engage directly with an online critic.
The controversy also highlights a broader challenge for policymakers. Public skepticism toward overseas aid has long been present in Korea, where critics question why taxpayer money is being spent abroad, even though the country itself has been a recipient of international aid.
Officials said that not responding to the added allegation would have risked deepening distrust not just of the assistance being sent to Iran but of aid policy more broadly.
“That kind of misunderstanding, if left unchecked, could have undermined confidence in humanitarian assistance as a whole,” one diplomatic source told the JoongAng Ilbo.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY YOON JI-WON [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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