The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

DTI PHILIPPINES AND KOREA TRADE NETWORK HOLDS 2ND INVITATIONAL PROGRAM IN SEOUL

Top: Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega (7th from left) with the DTI Export Marketing Bureau and members of the Korea Trade Network during the Invitational Program for the Implementation of the FTA Origin Management System (OMS) Project last 13-25 January 2025 in Seoul.

07 February 2025, Seoul – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Export Marketing Bureau, and the Korea Trade Network jointly held the 2^nd Invitational Program for the Implementation of the FTA Origin Management System (OMS) Project last 13-25 January 2025 in Seoul.

15 participants – representing the DTI, Board of Investments, Bureau of Customs, Tariff Commission, and the Department of Agriculture – participated in the program that served as a platform to discuss best practices in the operationalization and utilization of similar systems in Korea. These government agencies are responsible in servicing export and import processes and requirements in the Philippines.

During the 2-week long program, several components of the Project were discussed, such as, (i) the OMS design and the digitalization of the Product Evaluation Report (PER) management system; (ii) the utilization plan for the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement; and (iii) origin determination, post-verification, and Country of Origin issuance processes.

To equip participants with deeper understanding of FTA utilization and gain insights into Korea’s best practices, visits to Korean government agencies and industrial sites were also organized, such as to the National Information Resources Service, Busan Port Authority, Hyundai Asan Plant, Samsung Innovation Center, Kolmar Korea, and Amorepacific Factory, among others.

The Origin Management System Project aims to promote the use of FTAs in the Philippines while enhancing administrative efficiency for the Philippine government and reducing processing time and costs for Philippine MSME exporters.

Supported by the Korean Government, through the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, the project comprises consulting, system development, and capacity building and activation support across 30 months.

The first component of the project, the Philippine FTAs Information Portal (FIP), was officially launched in December 2024 during the National Exporters’ Week in Manila. The FIP provides a comprehensive set of FTAs and GSP-related resources, which includes export guidelines, utilization data, and a rules of origin simulator, among others.

The second component of the project, the FTA Origin Management System, is expected to be completed within the year. Consultations with and training sessions for Philippine exporters, as well as system pilot tests, are planned for the first half of 2025.

“We thank the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology and the Korea Trade Network for their utmost support that makes this project possible. The completion of this project comes at a very opportune time as we jointly implement the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement. The implementation of this project will not only strengthen Philippine exports but will also benefit national economic development and further promote national innovation in the Philippines. We look forward to working more closely with Korea on synergistic initiatives that benefit both our countries,” says Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Korea.

To know more about Philippine FTAs, visit the portal at https://philippineftas.dti.gov.ph/. END

Philippine delegates to the 2nd Invitational Program on the Implementation of the FTA Origin Management System (OMS) Project last 13-25 January 2025 in Seoul. They are joined by Commercial Attaché Charmaigne Mignon S. Yalong of PTIC-Seoul.

Philippine Embassy Conducts First Financial Literacy Seminar in 2025

PR MTD 09 2025

06 February 2025, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul recently held its first Financial Literacy Seminar for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in South Korea for 2025 last 01 February at the Sentro Rizal Hall. This marks an important activity for the Philippine Government’s advocacy toward further empowering the Filipino community with essential financial tools. This event, entitled "Financial Management Entrepreneurship & Investment Seminar," was organized by the Embassy, through the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) – South Korea, in partnership with the Diaspora International Christian Ministries (DICM) under the Embassy’s flagship PEAK Pinoy Program.

The seminar drew a strong turnout of over 75 participants. It is the first in a series of financial literacy seminars intended to provide OFWs with guidance on personal finance, investment opportunities, and developing entrepreneurial skills. The initiative aims to support their financial stability and success while aligning with the Philippines’ whole-of-government approach in its Reintegration Program for OFWs.

Two prominent financial experts, Mr. Chinkee Tan (known as the Pambansang Wealth Coach and Chink Positive) and Rev. Dr. Ariel C. Bernardo (a multi-awarded OFW and Huwarang OFW Coach), led the seminar, focusing on topics like "Pinoy Cultural Syndrome in Handling Money" and personal financial management strategies.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega emphasized the importance of financial literacy and entrepreneurship for the Filipino community in South Korea and highlighted that this seminar is part of the Embassy's PEAK Pinoy program, a collaborative effort of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Migrant Workers Office (MWO), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO), and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Seoul, to provide entrepreneurship and reintegration options for OFWs in South Korea. She encouraged participants to apply what they learned to manage their finances better and protect themselves from scams or misleading "get rich quick" schemes.

During the Q&A session, attendees engaged with the speakers about their own financial challenges, seeking practical advice on how to improve their financial management and achieve their personal goals.

The program was concluded by MWO Officer-in-Charge Manolo Barotilla with the message that the seminar is an important part of the Embassy's broader effort to equip OFWs with the tools they need to succeed financially and make informed decisions about their futures.

The Philippine Embassy’s commitment to supporting the financial well-being of Filipinos abroad was reinforced by the success of this event, with plans for further initiatives like future training, Know Your Rights and Responsibilities sessions, and seminars under the PEAK Pinoy program. END.

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.