The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PH EMBASSY WITH COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS SIGNS MOU ON COOPERATION AND MEET WITH MIGRANT CENTERS AND FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN SOUTH KOREA

From top left: Ambassador Dizon-de Vega delivers remarks at the Signing Ceremony; Seoul PE, CFO and Filipino community members at the signing and town hall; Secretary Romulo V. Arugay of the CFO delivers a message; signing of the MOU

31 August 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Korea and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) signed a milestone Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on 27 August 2023 at the Embassy’s Sentro Rizal Hall. The MOU allows for greater cooperation intended to prevent, mitigate, and help facilitate timely intervention for the resolution of cases or incidents of abuse and exploitation of Filipino marriage migrants in South Korea, enhance existing orientation programs, and promote services available to them in Korea and the Philippines.

In her remarks, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega emphasized that the MOU marks closer cooperation between the Embassy and the CFO in undertaking activities that would safeguard the rights and interests of marriage migrants in ROK. In particular, the mutual participation and support of both parties in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) are meant to ensure that Filipino marriage migrants are able to adapt to a different culture and know what to do in case of distress. Meanwhile, the CFO Chairperson, Secretary Romulo V. Arugay, said that this first MOU signed by the CFO with an Embassy manifests the CFO’s commitment to protect marriage migrants and promote unity among Filipino communities all over the world.

Earlier on August 25, the Embassy and the CFO delegation met with the officers of the NamSeoul Center for Migrant Women & Children in Crisis and received an orientation on the role of migrant centers all over ROK in implementing the “Act on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of Victims.” The Center, which opened on 19 April 2021, offers counseling and legal services to aid foreign women who are victims of domestic violence and other forms of abuse. In addition, the Embassy and the CFO Delegation visited a nearby privately-run shelter which is assisting marriage migrants including Filipinos. The Philippine Government delegation provided welfare assistance in the form of household and food items for the wards of the shelter.

On August 26 and 27, the Embassy with the CFO delegation conducted town halls with the United Filipinos in Korea (UFILKOR) and the larger Filipino community in South Korea.

In keeping with the mandate of the signed MOU, the Embassy is expected to hold its first Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar for recently arrived marriage migrants in South Korea in November 2023, in time for the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. More information shall be made available on the Embassy’s website and social media pages. END

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AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA MEETS WITH PRESIDENT GHEEWHAN KIM OF THE KOREA FOUNDATION ON FUTURE COLLABORATION IN PH-ROK RELATIONS

(PHOTO - Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega meets with President Gheewhan Kim of the Korea Foundation at the KF Head Office in Seoul).

30 August 2023, Seoul – Philippine Ambassador Dizon – De Vega and Korea Foundation (KF) President Kim Gweehan met recently at the KF headquarters in Seoul to discuss areas of cooperation and mutual interest including the commemoration of the 75^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Philippines in 2024.

President Kim expressed the interest of the KF in collaborating with the Embassy in its year-long activities to commemorate the 75^th anniversary.

Other topics discussed included engagement on people-to-people and cultural matters which fall under the purview of the KF, educational projects, scholarship grants, and exchanges in the arts, film, music and language, to raise awareness of the long-standing history and close diplomatic ties shared by the ROK and the Philippines.

In attendance during the meeting, were KF Global Center Director Ms. Kim Hyun-Joo, KF Global Center Assistant Director Ms. Park Minhee and Embassy Cultural Attaché Mr. Anthony Cornista.

The Korea Foundation also oversees the programs and projects of the KF – ASEAN Culture House (ACH) in Busan and the KF headquarters in Seoul. END

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA MEETS THE NEW DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE KOREAN MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY, AND ENERGY

Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega and Commercial Counselor Jose Ma. Dinsay poses for a photo opportunity with the new Free Trade Agreement Negotiations Director General Jang Seong-gil after his courtesy call held at the Philippine Embassy on 30 August 2023.

30 August 2023, Seoul. The Philippines and the Republic of Korea continue to work on advancing trade and investment relations between both nations including through the Philippines-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega welcomed the new ROK Free Trade Agreement Negotiations Director General Jang Seong-gil at the Philippine Embassy with Commercial Counselor Jose Ma. Dinsay on 30 August 2023.

In anticipation of the signing of the Philippine-Korea Free Trade Agreement, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and Director General Jang discussed the procedures and formalities after the signing of the agreement on both sides and looked forward to working closely with the each other until its implementation.

The PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement once in effect is expected to rapidly augment trade and investment between the two countries and strengthen the relationship between our complementary economies.END

PHILIPPINES AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA SIGN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

[Top photo] President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (standing left) and ROK President Yoon Suk Yeol (standing right) witness the signing of the PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement. [Below photo] Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual (seated left) and ROK Trade Minister Ahn Duk Geun (seated right) sign the PH-ROK FTA.

10 September 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul is pleased to announce the signing of the Philippines - Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement on 7 September 2023.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and ROK President Yoon Suk Yeol witnessed the signing of the PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement by Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Trade Minister Ahn Duk Geun on the sidelines of the 43^rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Jakarta, Indonesia and on the occasion of the 24^thASEAN-Korea Summit last 7 September 2023.

The signed PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement augurs well for the deepening economic cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea and is a testament to our strong trade and investment relations with the ROK, the 5^th largest economy in Asia and the Pacific and the 12^thin the world.

President Marcos said that the trade agreement would further enhance the vibrant relationship and partnership between the Philippines and ROK, expressing optimism that it would go beyond the government-to-government partnership to involve private firms and private sector partners.

President Marcos also told President Yoon that “The signing of the FTA is certainly a very big step in that regard. It can only be a successful arrangement for both our countries. I look forward to the expansion of the trade agreement between your country and mine.”

For his part, President Yoon said that he is eager to elevate the strategic partnership between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea as he emphasized that the PH-ROK FTA “will set another important milestone” in the relationship between the two countries.

“I’m really also eager to elevate our partnership to a strategic partnership as we have proposed the last time. And in this regard, I believe that the Korea-Philippines Free Trade Agreement signed later today will set another important milestone in our bilateral relations,” the ROK President said.

PH Trade Secretary Pascual emphasized that, “For the Philippines, this FTA serves as a clear demonstration of the intent to elevate the current bilateral relations with ROK to a stronger strategic partnership. The Philippines’ engagement with ROK is built on trade through market access, economic cooperation, and investments through collaboration in targeted sectors such as critical minerals and supply chains."

The Philippines and ROK began their negotiations for the FTA in June 2019 and concluded in October 2021. The Philippine Embassy, led by H.E. Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega and Commercial Counsellor Jose Ma. Dinsay, attended the ceremony for the formal announcement of the conclusion of the negotiations of the Philippines and ROK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 26 October 2021.

The newly signed FTA is expected to remove tariffs on most products from the two countries, opening the door to rapid growth in bilateral trade. It is envisioned to help promote the Philippines as a strong market for smart and sustainable investments, ensure major economic gains with enhanced market access to ROK, and yield strategic investments in priority sectors and industries and in emerging economic areas. ROK is a valued trade and investment partner of the Philippines. In 2022, it ranked fourth in terms of total bilateral trade, valued at USD15.45 billion, and sixth in total approved investments, valued at USD90.62 million. END