The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PH AMBASSADOR THERESA DIZON-DE VEGA AND SAMSUNG EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT WON-KYONG KIM DISCUSS BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PHILIPPINES

PR MTD 97 2023 CourtesyCall of Samsung EVP

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon De Vega and Samsung Executive Vice President Won-kyong Kim discuss business and investment opportunities for the Philippines

19 JULY 2023, Seoul - Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Executive Vice President for Global Public Affairs Won-kyong Kim had a productive meeting at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on 18 July 2023. Mr. Kim called on the Ambassador to discuss future business and investment opportunities of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd in the Philippines.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega shared that the Philippines will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea next year and hoped that Samsung will continue to support more PH-ROK economic engagement. Mr. Kim conveyed that the Philippines is one of Samsung’s valued partner countries in Southeast Asia and expressed hope that this partnership will continue to grow. Both sides looked forward to stronger economic relations, especially with the forthcoming signing of the Philippines-Republic of Korea Foreign Trade Agreement (PH-ROK FTA).

The Samsung Executive Vice President was joined by Mr. Paul Yoon of the Samsung Global Public Affairs Team’s Corporate Management Office. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega was joined by the Embassy’s economic team, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and Commercial Attaché Jose Ma. Dinsay.

Samsung Corporation is currently the largest company in the Republic of Korea with a USD 292.2 B market cap. In the Philippines, investments of Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines Corporation (SEMPHIL) in the country has surpassed USD 25 billion. END

PRESIDENT MARCOS INAUGURATES THE SAMAR PACIFIC COASTAL ROAD PROJECT FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. (middle) and Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan (right) unveil the marker of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road. They were joined by ROK Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Lee Sang-hwa (left). Photo courtesy of PCOO.

Tacloban City, Philippines – On 14 July 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. led the inauguration of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) project phase 1 in Northern Samar which was completed after five years of construction. The project was funded by the government of the Republic of Korea through the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM). The PHP1.12 billion SPCR project phase 1 has opened with 11.6-kilometers of concreted road stretch, including three bridges.

In his remarks, President Marcos was hopeful that the project will soon bring development to Northern Samar’s agricultural sector. He said “With the opening of this road and its bridges, the development of Northern Samar’s rich agricultural lands and bountiful fishing grounds will follow suit. It will also expedite the delivery and movement of our basic goods and services, which will hopefully boost our people’s quality of life.”

He added that this undertaking, strengthens the Philippine government’s effort to address insurgency in the province and “ensure that economic gains and basic service will reach everyone on the island.”

Cooperation in infrastructure development to increase movement of people and goods, improve the delivery of services, and stimulate economic and business activities are some of the key priorities of PH-ROK bilateral relations.

In addition to the SPCR, ROK is also funding twenty-one (21) other projects in the Philippines. The Philippines is looking forward to pursue more collaboration and more flagship projects with the Republic of Korea. END

UP AND KOICA TO COLLABORATE ON CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRICULTURAL GENOMICS RESEARCH CENTER IN UPLB

UP President Angelo Jimenez and KOICA Country Director Kim Eunsub joined by UP and KOICA officials during the signing of the Record of Discussions to collaborate in the Capacity-Building for Higher Education and the Establishment of Agricultural Genomics Research Center at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (photo credits: Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs-UP

16 July 2023, Seoul. The University of the Philippines and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), are set to collaborate on a project that will strengthen science and technology adaptation in agriculture through the enhancement of genomics research and development in the Philippines.

UP and KOICA signed a Record of Discussions to collaborate in conducting the project “Capacity-Building for Higher Education and the Establishment of Agricultural Genomics Research Center at the University of the Philippines Los Baños” on 15 July 2023 at the Quezon Building of the University of the Philippines in Diliman. The 6-year project with a US 14.95 Million grant will include the establishment of a state-of-the-art Agricultural Genomics Research Center and capacity-building scholarships, training, and research programs.

UP President Angelo R. Jimenez and KOICA Philippines Country Head Kim Eunsub signed the Record of Discussions with UP and KOICA officials in attendance.

The project is another example of the growing engagement of the Philippines and Korea on science and technology cooperation. END

FOUR FILIPINA ILLUSTRATORS JOIN THE 15TH SEOUL ILLUSTRATION FESTIVAL

Photo from top row, clockwise: Ms. Elle Shivers, Ms. Gianne Encarnacion and friend, Ms. Marci Delfin, and Ms. Ella Lama; the Filipina Illustrators with Philippine Embassy representatives Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista and Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista

09 July 2023, Seoul. Four Filipina illustrators joined the annual Seoul Illustration Festival (SIF) held from 06 to 09 July 2023 at the COEX Exhibition Hall C. Illustrators Ella Lama, Gianne Encarnacion, Elle Shivers and Marci Delfin were selected from a pool of global applicants for their strong vision and creative illustrations that resonate with the theme “Joy of Illustration.” All are accomplished illustrators whose works have been featured by various publications and in hit corporate marketing campaigns. The Philippine Embassy’s Third Secretary and Vice Consul Jilliane De Dumo-Cornista and Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista were on hand to visit the Philippine exhibition section.

First launched in 2015, the 15th SIF is a biannual event focusing on various forms of artwork including graphic design, picture books, typography, and webtoon designs, among others. This year’s event was attended by more than 800 illustrators worldwide, and attracted more than 10,000 visitors over the course of five days. The artists’ works and profiles may be found at the SIF website at http://seoulillustrationfair.co.kr/. END