The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY SUPPORTS PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM IN INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES AGAINST SOUTH KOREA

Top: The Philippine Women's National Football Team “Filipinas” with Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario after their 5 April 2024 football friendly at the Icheon City Stadium in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do. Below: The Philippine Women's National Football Team was commended by KFA officials on their strong level of play on the field.

8 April 2024, Icheon – The Philippine Embassy proudly supported the Philippine Women's National Football Team “Filipinas” as they faced the Korean National Women’s Football Team “Taeguk Ladies” over two international friendly matches on 5 and 8 April 2024 at the Icheon City Stadium in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do.

Hosted by the Korean Football Association (KFA), the international friendlies symbolize strong people-to-people ties between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, especially in sports. Sports cooperation through friendly matches in various fields will also feature in the celebration of Philippines and the Republic of Korea’s 75 years of diplomatic relations this 2024.

The team was joined by Philippine Women's National Football Team Manager Jefferson Cheng and football coach Mark Torcaso. Although the Filipinas lost to the Republic of Korea, with scores of 3-0 and 2-1 during the friendlies, the Philippine Women's National Football Team gave the Taeguk Ladies two very tough games. Philippines defender Angela Beard scored the Philippines’ first and only goal during the friendlies at the 8 April 2024 game. The friendlies are necessary steps to bridge the gap with some of Asia’s top football teams. South Korea currently sits at No. 20 on the FIFA ranking, 19 spots above the Philippines, at No. 39.

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario watched the first game alongside Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu, Icheon City Mayor Kim Kyung-hee, Philippine Women's National Football Team Manager Jefferson Cheng, Philippine Women's National Football Team administrative and support member Kevin Dee, and other officials of the KFA. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Olavario congratulated the Filipinas on the pitch and conveyed the Embassy’s support and appreciation for their exceptional talent, performance, and sportsmanship during the KFA-hosted friendlies.

After the games, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with the members, coaches, and administrative-management support of the Philippine Women's National Football Team in Seoul for coffee and treats, in appreciation for the Filipinas' participation in the PH-ROK international football friendlies.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul wishes the Philippine Women's National Football Team success as they prepare for the Asian Cup. The Philippine Embassy will continue to support Filipino athletes and talents honing their skills in the Republic of Korea. END

Top left: Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu, Icheon City Mayor Kim Kyung-hee, Philippine Women's National Football Team Manager Jefferson Cheng and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario watching the 1^st game. Bottom leftmost: On behalf of Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Olavario conveyed PH Embassy support for Filipinas. Center and rightmost: After two excruciating games, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team enjoyed coffee & snacks with Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega in Seoul.

PHILIPPINES CALLS FOR ENHANCED SECURITY COOPERATION AT THE UNITED NATIONS COMMAND MEMBER STATES AMBASSADOR’S MEETING

Top: The meeting acknowledges the presence of Amb. Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega. Below: Ambassador Dizon-De Vega delivering her intervention. The Ambassador highlighted PH’s robust defense cooperation with the ROK and UNC, as well as other like-minded nations present in the meeting.

5 April 2024, Seoul – Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega joined ROK Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, ROK MOFA Deputy Minister Chung Byung-won, and fellow ambassadors of 17 United Nations Command (UNC) member states on 5 April 2024 at the Ministry of Defense Convention Center in Seoul to discuss ways to further enhance security cooperation and promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of the region amid rising geopolitical tensions. The meeting was also attended by UNC Deputy Commander Lt. Gen Derek Macaulay and H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, President and Chair of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and 8th Secretary General of the UN General Assembly.

During the meeting, United Nations Command Member States conveyed that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are integral to global peace and pledged to closely coordinate with the Republic of Korea to uphold shared goals. UNC member states also conveyed their commitment to strengthening defense cooperation and partnership with the ROK and active participation in the UN Command Member States mechanisms.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega conveyed practical examples of PH cooperation with the UNC, including sending participants from the Philippine military to UNC-led joint exercises in 2023, the Philippines’ active participation in conferences on allied areas of cooperation and exchange such as military logistics, and conveyed PH intent to continue its active participation in regular UN Command meetings. The Philippines also expressed serious concern for DPRK’s nuclear ambitions, and called for the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the DPRK, stressing the need to abide by international law and UNSC sanctions.

The Ambassador was joined by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario and Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Don Templonuevo INF (GSC) PA.

The UN Command was established in July 1950 under a UN mandate to support ROK against DPRK aggression. Heeding the call of the UN, the Philippines sent 7,420 troops under the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) to help South Korea fight for freedom. At present, the UN Command has been overseeing the armistice that halted the Korean War from 1950-1953. Current members of the UNC include the United States, Britain, Canada, Turkey, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, the Netherlands, Colombia, Greece, New Zealand, Belgium, France, South Africa, Norway, Denmark and Italy. END

Top: UNC Member States Ambassador Meeting, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega (2^nd row, fourth from right) is joined ROK Defense Minister Shin Won-shin, ROK MOFA Deputy Minister Chung Byung-Won, and fellow ambassadors of 17 United Nations Command (UNC) member states on 5 April 2024 at the Ministry of Defense Convention Center in Seoul. Below: (leftmost) Amb. Dizon-De Vega is acknowledged during the meeting, (center) with H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, President & Chair of the GGGI and 8^th UN Secretary General, (right) Ambassador De Vega exchanging pleasantries with ROK Defense Minister Shin Won-sik.

PHILIPPINES HIGHLIGHTS ASEAN-REPUBLIC OF KOREA COOPERATION ON MSME DEVELOPMENT AT THE 28TH ASEAN-ROK DIALOGUE

Top photo: Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs and Philippine-ASEAN Senior Official Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro leads the discussion on ASEAN-ROK cooperation on the Economic Security Pillar. Middle photo: Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States and ROK participate in the 28th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue. Bottom: Philippine Ambassador to ROK Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega (second to the right), DFA Assistant Secretary and ASEAN-Philippines Director-General Daniel R. Espiritu (second to the left), Third Secretary Reisha Olavario (rightmost), and Principal Assistant Prince Nagpala (leftmost) joined Usec Lazaro as part of the Philippine Delegation

SEOUL 08 April 2024 — The Philippines led discussions on ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Economic Cooperation, particularly on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), during the 28^th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue in Seoul. Undersecretary and the Philippines’ ASEAN SOM Leader Maria Theresa P. Lazaro thanked the ROK for its support for MSMEs and start-up development in ASEAN through consistent policy dialogues and capacity-building programs.

“We encourage ROK and ASEAN member states to explore projects that will strengthen our MSMEs and create a supportive environment for these businesses to thrive”, said Undersecretary Lazaro.

On Maritime Cooperation, Undersecretary Lazaro welcomed ROK’s statement opposing destabilizing and coercive actions in the South China Sea. Undersecretary Lazaro likewise expressed Philippine support for the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI), particularly its objective to Expand ASEAN-ROK comprehensive security cooperation through setting up bilateral channels of maritime cooperation with AMS and enhancing existing policy dialogue on maritime affairs with the Philippines.

The Undersecretary also emphasized that the situation in the South China Sea must not be viewed mainly as a function of the US-China strategic rivalry. “Subscribing strictly to the prism of this rivalry is, to our minds, simplistic, and does not help in an honest understanding of the situation” inasmuch as “aggressive unilateral actions that are clearly illegal in international law and against the UN Charter, which directly affects some ASEAN Member States, like the Philippines, are sometimes rationalized, denigrated and overlooked under the pretext of this rivalry,” while “legitimate responses of aggrieved parties, which again include some ASEAN Member States, to illegal actions are at times unjustly viewed through the prism of this strategic rivalry,” Undersecretary Lazaro added.

Undersecretary Lazaro expressed concern over the DPRK’s continuing launch of ballistic missiles, especially the third ballistic missile test this year conducted on 02 April 2024. Recognizing that such actions undermine economic progress, peace, and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region, Undersecretary Lazaro conveyed the Philippines’ support for the call for a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of DPRK.

This year, ASEAN and the ROK celebrate 35 years of Dialogue Relations and are looking forward to elevating relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). Full Dialogue Partnership and Strategic Partnership (SP) between ASEAN and ROK were established in 1991 and 2011, respectively.

Philippine Ambassador to ROK Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, DFA Assistant Secretary and ASEAN-Philippines Director-General Daniel R. Espiritu, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and DFA Principal Assistant Prince Nagpala joined Undersecretary Lazaro as members of the Philippine delegation. END

Philippine-ROK Origins Management System Project for the FTA Launched

PR MTD 37 2024

05 April 2024, Seoul. The Philippines and Korea embarked this month on a ground breaking project for an “Origins Management System for the Promotion of FTAs in the Philippines”. The Record of Discussions for the implementation of the project was signed in the Philippines in November 2023 between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the ROK Government through the Korea Institute for the Advancement of Technology (KIAT) and the Korea Trade Network (KTNET), the designated trade automation business service provider, partnering with DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB).

The initial phase of the program was launched this week in Pangyo Smart City, Korea with the Invitational Training Implementation Plan. The week-long program provided the Philippines and ROK sides with an opportunity to exchange views and align targets for the project implementation. Philippine delegates from DTI-EMB, DTI-BITR, Board of Investments, Bureau of Customs, Export Development Council, and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. likewise undertook site visits and meetings with KIAT, KTNET, the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), the ROK National Paperless Trade Infrastructure Operation, and ROK FTA Support Center. There were likewise sessions on the Korea Customs Service and Issuance of Certificate of Origin, FTA-based exports by exporting companies, and introduction to ROK’s FTA platform and usage activation.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega stated that the “mainstreaming of digital platforms will contribute to enhancing FTA availment among Filipino exporters” and reiterated support for the project. For his part, KTNET CEO and President Cha Young-Hwan shared that ROK is eager to partner with the Philippines and share its best practices on leveraging the available technology for more seamless export transactions. Likewise present was the launch were Philippine Commercial Counsellor Jose Ma. Dinsay and DTI-EMB Director Bianca Sykimte.

The Philippines-Korea FTA was signed in September 2023 ahead of the commemoration of 75 years of Philippines-Korea relations in 2024. END