The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

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

AMB. DIZON-DE VEGA DISCUSSES HEALTH CARE INITIATIVE PROGRAMS FOR FILIPINO VETERANS WITH THE ROK MINISTRY OF PATRIOTS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega with MPVA Director-General Kang Yunjin, ROK Veterans Hospital Director Kim Seulki, and Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Enriqueto Deocadez Jr. PA at the Philippine Embassy on 30 August 2023.

30 August 2023, Seoul. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Colonel Enriqueto Deocadez Jr. met with ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) Director-General Kang Yunjin and Veterans Hospital Director Kim Seulki on 30 August 2023.

Both sides discussed veterans affairs cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, including jointly working on future programs that will benefit Filipino Veterans in the Philippines such as on healthcare and support for the Philippine Veterans Memorial Hospital.

The Philippine Embassy continues to work with counterparts in the ROK government to honor the 7,420 veterans of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) for their service and sacrifice during the 1950s Korean War. Included in the cooperation and assistance programs are descendants of veterans. The MPVA will work with the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Office of Defense and Armed Forces Attaché, and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) on veterans’ support and welfare concerns. END