The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

ASEAN COMMITTEE IN SEOUL AGREE TO STRENGTHEN REGIONAL COOPERATION WITH 1st VICE FOREIGN MINISTER KIM HONG KYUN

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega (right-most, first row) joins the rest of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul for a photo opportunity with ROK First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun (center, first row) after a productive luncheon meeting.

5 February 2025, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega participated in the luncheon-meeting hosted by 1st Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun for the ASEAN Committee in Seoul on 5 February 2024. The meeting, originally scheduled as an activity under the Philippine Chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul from July - December 2024, was an opportunity for the Philippines to reaffirm the commitment to deepening ties with ASEAN member states and enhancing regional cooperation on key political, economic, and security issues with the Republic of Korea.

During the meeting, Vice Minister Kim engaged in discussions with the ASEAN Committee in Seoul on a wide range of topics, including economic resilience, sustainable development, digital transformation, and regional security. In particular, he emphasized the Republic of Korea's continued support for ASEAN Centrality, ASEAN's important role in keeping peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and the Republic of Korea's dedication to advancing the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI).

1st Vice Foreign Minister Kim likewise reiterated South Korea’s commitment to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, calling for continued international cooperation in addressing related security challenges. He highlighted the importance of maintaining a rules-based international order and the importance of strengthening regional mechanisms such as ASEAN to promote dialogue.

On the economic front, participants underscored the need to bolster supply chain resilience, expand trade and investment opportunities, and foster innovation through digital and green partnerships. The ASEAN Committee in Seoul welcomed the ROK government's willingness to work closely with ASEAN in key sectors such as smart infrastructure, clean energy, and digital economy.

For the Philippines, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega looked forward to the ROK’s continued active engagement in meetings hosted by different countries in the ASEAN region. For this year, the Philippines will be hosting several international meetings across different sectors such as health and good governance through open government partnership, among others. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise conveyed her appreciation for the Republic of Korea’s consistent public support of the importance of upholding the rule of law and a rules-based international order.

The Philippines and the Republic of Korea are strategic partners whose strong ties are based on like-minded values and a shared vision for a prosperous and stable region. Our robust political and defense cooperation, the recent signing of the Philippines - Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement, the elevation of relations to a Strategic Partnership, and our strong people-to-people ties are among the close manifestations of our long-standing and dynamic partnership. END

PHL EMBASSY CONDUCTS FIRST CONSULAR AND INFORMATION OUTREACH IN 2025

PR MTD 07 2025

25 January 2025, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy conducted its first consular and information outreach for the year on 19 January 2025 in Seoul in cooperation with the Filipino Community Organizations KASAMMA-KO and PROK Seoul Diaspora Church.

Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega emphasized the significance of the consular outreach program in bringing essential services closer to the Filipino community. She highlighted its role in addressing the needs of both newly arrived and long-term Filipino residents in South Korea, ensuring their continued access to vital support programs.

Various services were offered during the outreach, including passport renewal, Embassy ID applications, and Assistance-to-Nationals transactions. Representatives from Pag-IBIG, MWO and OWWA were also present to provide assistance and guidance on their respective programs.

The Philippine Embassy is set to release its consular outreach schedule for 2025. For more details, please visit the Embassy website at https://www.philembassy-seoul.com.

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH CEBU PACIFIC KOREA BRANCH COUNTRY MANAGER

PR MTD 06 2025 CC CebuPac Korea

25 January 2025, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega received the courtesy call of Mr. Hyukshin Kang, Country Manager of Cebu Pacific Korea Branch on 23 January 2025.

Mr. Kang shared that Cebu Pacific Korea’s operations in 2024 yielded very good results in general. For this year, Cebu Pacific Korea will continue to focus on increasing ticket sales to domestic destinations in the Philippines via the Manila route as well as increasing its fleet capacity to accommodate more travelers.

Bilateral relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea boasts of strong people-to-people ties, manifested in the increasing number of tourist arrivals in both nations and continued two-way travel. In 2024, visitors from South Korea accounted for 1.31 million tourist arrivals in the Philippines, which constituted 26.9 percent of the country’s total foreign visitors. This was an 11.4 percent increase from the previous year, solidifying South Korea’s status as a vital partner in the Philippines’s tourism industry. END

THE PHILIPPINES KICKS-OFF THE FIRST UNITED NATIONS COMMAND-AMBASSADOR ROUNDTABLE OF 2025

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega joins new UNC Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson (center-left) at the head table with UNC Deputy Commander Lt. Gen Derek Macaulay (center-right), and US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Ms. Joy Sakurai (far-left).

22 January 2025, Seoul. The Philippines was the host of the first United Nations Command-Ambassadors’ Roundtable (UNC-ART) this year, which was also the first Official Engagement of the new UNC Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson since he took Office on 20 December 2024.

At the meeting, Gen. Brunson affirmed his commitment as the UNC Commander for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula through upholding the Armistice Agreement. He also shared his vision to carry the legacy of UNC in the new year, marking the 75th anniversary of UNC’s presence on the Peninsula. He emphasized his resolve for establishing robust and transparent communication channels among UNC member states to ensure timely information sharing and coordinated response. The General likewise noted that UNC and its member states’ collective resolve, cooperation, and commitment to the Armistice Agreement are more crucial than ever in the face of evolving challenges and uncertainties.

Member states ambassadors and representatives welcomed Gen. Brunson and ensured continued support and coordination with the UNC.

Philippines Ambassador Dizon-De Vega was honored to host the first Ambassadors Roundtable of the year. She emphasized that UNC member states have a long-standing commitment to maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula with a shared vision and are stronger when working together.

The United Nations Command- Ambassadors’ Roundtable is a venue for leaders of UNC and UNCMS embassies to discuss various security environment factors that are relevant to the UNC’s mission and seek future opportunities to collaborate with the Republic of Korea and UNC member states. END