The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINES WELCOMES PARTNERSHIP OF KOREA’S HD KSOE AND US FIRM CERBERUS IN SUBIC

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos with executives of HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering and Cerberus Capital Management during the announcement of their joint investment initiative on 14 May 2024. President Marcos attended the event with Kim Sung-joon, HD's CEO, and Alexander Benard, senior managing director of Cerberus, senior officials from both companies, and respective Ambassadors of the ROK and the US to the Philippines.

16 May 2024, Manila – The Philippine Government welcomed the new partnership between South Korean company HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) with US firm Cerberus Capital Management to lease a portion of the Subic shipyard in the Philippines, along with its facilities, to propel business in the production of offshore wind turbine substructures and provide ship repair services.

The Philippine government expects this partnership to provide a much-needed boost to the local economy in Subic as the company aims to develop the area into a maritime complex capable of manufacturing the substructures as well as ship blocks while also providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services through close cooperation with the Philippine government.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed HD Hyundai’s investment, saying that it “will not only open new doors for our offshore wind industry, but will also bring maritime manufacturing back to Subic, and eventually restore the glory days of shipbuilding to the Philippine shores.” He added that the investment will not only generate thousands of jobs, but also enable the transfer of critical skills, and improve the Philippines’ position in the global market.

HD KSOE CEO Kim Sung-joon, shared that they eventually aim to create a “state-of-the-art maritime complex” for various services while Cerberus Senior Managing Director Alexander Benard noted that this would “create substantial employment and bring back economic vitality to the Subic Bay area.”

HD KSOE, a South Korea-based shipbuilder and solution provider in heavy industry and energy sectors, will initially focus on the construction of offshore wind platforms. It is projecting to invest approximately US$550 million over 10 years and generate around 10,000 jobs within three to five years. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH SERVICE AND OVERSEAS VOTER MOBILE REGISTRATION IN BUSAN

PR MTD 55 2024 PHILIPPINE EMBASSY CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH SERVICE AND

11 May 2024, Busan. The Philippine Embassy conducted its first consular outreach mission for the year from 10 to 11 May 2024 in Busan City, led by Consul General Romulo Victor Israel, Jr. The consular team rendered 203 units of consular and Assistance to Nationals services to members of the Filipino community, including e-passport applications, notarials, civil registration, and Embassy ID, among others.

Representatives from Pag-IBIG, OWWA, and SSS also joined the outreach and rendered a combined 110 services, including renewal of OWWA membership, opening of Pag-IBIG regular and MP2 accounts, and updating of SSS records. The Embassy also conducted an Overseas Voter Mobile Registration and processed the application of 38 Overseas Filipino Voters.

The Embassy intends to conduct similar outreach activities this year in other areas in South Korea, including Jeju, Ansan/Cheonan, and Mokpo, among others. END

PHILIPPINE BOOK DONATION TO SEOUL METROPOLITAN LIBRARY IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL LITERATURE AND FILIPINO FOOD MONTHS

(PHOTOS – Left: Director Kim Yonghwan of the Seoul Metropolitan Library receives from Ambassador Dizon-De Vega donations from the Philippine Embassy. Right: On display the books and publications donated to the Seoul Metropolitan Library.)

24 April 2024, Seoul – In commemoration of the 75^th Anniversary of Philippine – Korea Diplomatic Relations and in celebration of National Literature Month, the Philippine Embassy made another donation of books and publications to the Seoul Metropolitan Library (SML). On behalf of the SML and the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), Director Kim Yonghwan of the Knowledge and Culture Division received from Ambassador Dizon – De Vega the books and publications.

This year’s theme for National Literature Month is “Ang Panitikan at Kapayapaan (Literature and Peace)” that aims to enable a meaningful discussion about the importance and contribution of literature in maintaining and spreading peace in the country and in communities.

(PHOTOS – Top: Ambassador Dizon – De Vega and Director Kim Yonghwan at the Philippines section of the library’s Global Collections Room. Below: Ambassador Dizon – De Vega briefs the library officials about the donations.)

As April also marks “Filipino Food Month (FFM)” or “Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino”, the donation focused on works as well as publications with culinary content. This year’s FFM theme is “Engaging the Youth in Shaping the Future of Philippine Culinary Heritage and Gastronomy”.

Director Kim welcomed the addition of the culinary publication materials to the Philippine Section in the Global Collections Room and expressed his appreciation for the second donation by the Embassy. Also present during the simple donation ceremony was Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista. END

PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES IN THE 2024 ICAO LEGAL SEMINAR; SHARES POLICIES AND INNOVATION IN PH AVIATION SECTOR

(Above Photo) DOTr Undersecretary Roberto Cecilio O. Lim and Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon De Vega joined the distinguished participants during a commemorative photo of the 2024 ICAO Legal Seminar. (Left Photo) Undersecretary Lim (middle), Ambassador Dizon-De Vega (right) and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha L. Olavario (left) attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 ICAO Legal Seminar. (Right Photo) Undersecretary Lim delivers PH intervention at the High Level Forum on Aviation Policy and Strategy.

02 May 2024, Seoul. The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) represented by Hon. Roberto Cecilio O. Lim, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports highlighted innovative policies and improvements in the Philippine aviation sector during the 2024 ICAO Legal Seminar held in Seoul, ROK from 16 to 18 April 2024. The seminar, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) of the Republic of Korea and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had about 600 participants from 62 countries.

Undersecretary Lim delivered the Philippines’ intervention during the High Level Forum on Aviation Policy and Strategy attended by transport Ministers and representatives from ICAO member states. He shared the vision of “One Philippine Aviation” under which the DOTr will pursue all its aviation related activities. The platform aims to go beyond modernizing infrastructure to actually building an aviation system that will serve as a catalyst of economic growth of various sectors. He also shared the Philippine government’s efforts in crafting legislation that will improve airport operations and ensure adherence to ICAO’s safety standards.

Now on its 7^th year, the ICAO Legal Seminar serves as a platform for participants to exchange insights and experiences on topics related to global aviation policy such as aviation safety and security from a legal perspective. The seminar also highlighted innovative technologies in the aviation field such as new mobility and tackled important issues and developments in the international civil aviation. END