GOVPH

PHL EMBASSY WELCOMES FILIPINO STUDENTS IN SECOND SUMMER SALO-SALO EVENT

20 July 2024, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega welcomed Filipino students in South Korea to the second “Summer Salo-Salo” event on 20 July 2024 at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. Around 70 students attended the gathering, designed to bring together Filipino students from different learning institutions in South Korea. The students likewise took part in fun games and enjoyed Filipino food.

In her remarks, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega warmly welcomed students to South Korea, encouraging them to seize every available opportunity to be engaged in their respective fields of study and research. She also highlighted the significance of 2024, marking the 75th anniversary of Philippines-South Korea diplomatic relations.

Part of the 75th anniversary activities is the Embassy’s collaboration with the Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea (PIKO) on an academic colloquium entitled SiyentiPIKO to be conducted in September 2024, signifying the Embassy’s unwavering commitment to supporting Filipino students as they pursue their various academic interests in South Korea. The Ambassador reassured the students that the Philippine Embassy would serve as their home away from home, offering a steadfast support system during their stay in South Korea.

As of May 2024, South Korea is home to at least 600 Filipino students who are taking various courses in the fields of language, art, business, development, medicine, engineering, and science and technology, among others. A number of students are members of PIKO, a registered Filipino community organization which was founded in 2006 and promotes unity and camaraderie among students, facilitates exchange of relevant information on both cultural and social issues, and liaises with relevant offices and organizations on student concerns. Filipino students living in South Korea who may need further information on relevant matters may contact the Philippine Embassy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. END

PHILIPPINE TOURISM SECTOR DISCUSS STREAMLINING TRAVEL SERVICES FOR KOREAN TOURISTS AND HOP-ON HOP-OFF TRAVEL BY THE HUBS INITIATIVE

23 July 2024, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul pushed for streamlining of travel services for the benefit of South Korean tourists bound for the Philippines during a meeting with the Department of Tourism-National Capital Region (DOT-NCR) led by Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin and Philippine government officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Customs (BOC), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), and private sector representatives from the travel operator and tourism marketing sector.

The group visited the Republic of Korea from 17 to 19 June 2024 to conduct a transit tour benchmarking activity in line with the Department of Tourism’s Hop-On Hop-Off (HOHO) Travel by the Hubs Initiative. The DOT project was launched in 2023 with Manila as a pilot hub and is currently being expanded to Makati, Taguig, Quezon City and other cities to highlight the major tourist destinations within Metro Manila, and later on to Cebu and other major transit points in the country.

On 17 June 2024, Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel Jr. joined by Tourism Director Ma. Corazon Jorda-Apo, welcomed the delegation for a courtesy visit at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. During the meeting, the officials briefed the Embassy on the current tourism promotion efforts as well as immigration and customs updates and policies in the Philippines.

The Embassy took the opportunity to raise the need to streamline processes for customs and immigration for tourists to ensure that Korean travelers have a pleasant and seamless experience from their arrival to departure from the Philippines. South Korean inbound tourist arrivals currently dominate the Philippine tourism market share at 25.99% as of June 2024.

The BI and BOC also agreed to collaborate with the Embassy for a town hall with the Filipino community in Korea to better educate OFWs/OFs, including those with Korean families, about travelers' or air passengers’ rights and obligations and update them on any new developments and regulations. The town hall will also be an opportunity to raise questions and suggestions based on their travel experiences.

The Philippine Embassy continues to work with the Philippine tourism sector to ensure seamless travel and improved tourism services in the Philippines. END

PHILIPPINES ASSUMES CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE ASEAN COMMITTEE IN SEOUL

20 July 2024, SEOUL - The Philippines assumed chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) in July 2024. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega was honored to receive the ASEAN gavel from outgoing Chairperson Myanmar Ambassador Thant Sin during a simple handover ceremony held at the Embassy of Myanmar in Seoul on 2 July 2024.

The Philippines’ chairmanship is a six-month term (Jul-Dec 2024) as head of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul. The Philippines looks forward to a productive and meaningful term through a series of engagements with ROK government officials and companies to discuss collaborative projects, as well as activities that will foster ASEAN camaraderie in Seoul.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega has shared that PH priorities during its chairmanship will focus on enhancing ASEAN-ROK discussions on common concerns and shared interests in the political, economic, cultural and people-to-people spheres; promoting ASEAN awareness; and continued close and strong working ties with the ASEAN-Korea Center.

The assumption of the chairmanship by the Philippines comes at an auspicious time as 2024 also marks the 35th Anniversary of the ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations and the 75th Anniversary of Philippines-Korea relations. As one of the founding members of ASEAN, the Philippines has always continues to work towards enhancing the regional groupings relations with dialogue partners.

Established under Article 43 of the ASEAN Charter, The ASEAN Committee in Seoul advances ASEAN interests in South Korea by elevating ASEAN-ROK relations through the promotion of ASEAN activities and enhancing cooperation between ASEAN and Korea across different sectors and platforms. END