26 December 2023, Seoul. Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo Jose De Vega met with Assistant Minister Park Namsook at the ROK Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) on 26 December 2023 to discuss the advancement and protection of multicultural families and Filipino-Korean youth living in South Korea. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega also joined the meeting.

Undersecretary de Vega conveyed the importance of inclusivity in the formulation and implementation of long-term plans and policies that will promote the welfare and further empower the growing number of multicultural families and youth living and working in the Republic of Korea, including Filipino-Korean families and children. He likewise looked forward to enhanced initiatives and support services for marriage migrants and their children, for socio-economic growth and academic development given Korea’s “Leave No Family Behind” policy. Highlighting the positive contributions of the Filipino migrant community in the Republic of Korea, the Undersecretary also conveyed that the ROK can look forward to new initiatives of the Philippines on sustainable migration, including programs which will encourage Filipinos to be active and engaged in their host country communities, especially through volunteer or civic work.

Assistant Minister Park Namsook informed the Philippines of the ROK government’s plan for multicultural family policy from 2023-2027. Announced in April 2023, the plan gives importance to marriage migrants and is vital to providing services from pre-departure support, economic development, and long-term assimilation, and will be customized based on the needs of children. The Assistant Minister also assured the Philippines of MOGEF’s commitment to support Filipino-Korean youth and their academic development through bilingual education and other academic initiatives. 

Reaffirming that the Philippines is an active and ready partner of the ROK in the advancement of marriage migrants and multicultural families, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega conveyed that the Philippine Embassy in Seoul will continue to participate in roundtable policy discussions on family and the youth organized by MOGEF and empower the Filipino migrant community through existing programs and new initiatives in 2024.END