The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

SENATOR JV EJERCITO MEETS OFWS IN KOREA FOR ASSESSMENT MISSION; PROMOTES WELLNESS FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINOS

Photos: Labor Attache Celeste Valderrama, Ambassador Dizon-de Vega, and Senator Ejercito with participants at the Filipino community Townhall meeting; Senator Ejercito delivers remarks

03 July 2023, Seoul – Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito met with the leaders of the Filipino community organizations in South Korea on 02 July 2023 in a dialogue meeting organized by the Philippine Embassy together with the Migrant Workers Office – OWWA in Korea at the Hyehwadong Catholic Center in Seoul. This is part of the Senator’s efforts to assess the impact of the establishment of the new Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) as one of the legislators involved in determining the resource allocation for the DMW.

During the activity, the Senator discussed important legislation that seek to improve the welfare of OFWs, including the Universal Health Care Act (UHCA) of which he is the principal author. “In the ongoing Congress, we hope to pass amendments to the UHCA that seek to adjust the current PhilHealth premium contribution rates, including those for OFWs, and free distressed or repatriated OFWs from their unpaid premiums upon return to the country”, Senator Ejercito said.

The Senator listened and responded to the Filipino community representatives as they conveyed their most pressing needs and shared views on how the legislature could support OFWs and their families back home.

Senator Ejercito affirmed his continued commitment to support the expanding operational and budgetary requirements of the DMW, the Philippine Embassy and MWOs to meet the current and future needs of OFWs. “Having been given the honor of defending the DMW’s inaugural budget for 2023, it is incumbent upon me to keep an eye on the responsiveness of the programs and services to the needs of our OFWs”, Senator Ejercito said. The Senator also shared related legislative efforts in infrastructure development and transportation modernization which will generate new opportunities for Filipinos back home.

Senator Ejercito visited Korea briefly to assess the challenges of the Embassy as well as MWO-OWWA, which is the overseas operating arm of the DMW, during this important period of organizational transition under RA 11461. The Embassy and MWO briefed the Senator about the PH-ROK bilateral relations, the employment and welfare condition of OFWs, and its programs and operational requirements. He checked on the facilities of the MWO-OWWA, including the Migrant Workers and other Filipino Resource Center, and met with the OFWs who were attending the regular skills training classes there. The visit provided an opportunity to examine the status of welfare, livelihood and reintegration support services for the Filipino migrant workers as well.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon–De Vega assured the Senator that the DFA and MWO-OWWA Seoul are working closely to ensure the smooth transition of service delivery for Assistance-to-Nationals for OFWs from the Consular Section of the Embassy to the MWO-OWWA under the one-country-team approach.

As part of his health and fitness advocacy for overseas Filipinos, Senator Ejercito also met and led nearly 100 OFW cyclists in South Korea in a 60 km ride through the Han River in Seoul.

Before leaving Korea, The Senator offered a floral tribute to the Filipino soldiers who bravely fought in the Korean war at the War Memorial Museum of Korea, as part of the commemoration of the 73^rd anniversary of the PEFTOK and the 70^th anniversary of the Korean armistice. On the same occasion Senator Ejercito likewise met with War Memorial Museum Chairman Baek Seung-Joo. END

Photos: Sen. Ejercito pays tribute to PEFTOK soldiers at the War Memorial Museum of Korea; Sen Ejercito joins the United Filipnio Cyclists in Korea for a wellness campaign in Seoul; Embassy Briefing; and visit to the MWO-OWWA offices.

PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES IN THE KOREA IMPORT FAIR 2023

(Left photo) Coconut Philippines booth at the Korea Import Fair 2023, (top center) ROK Minister for Trade Ahn Duk-geun delivering congratulatory remarks, (top Right) Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega with other foreign Ambassadors in ROK and KOIMA officials during the ribbon cutting ceremony. (Below center) Amb. Dizon-De Vega with Commercial Counselor Jose Ma “Jojie” Dinsay and (below right) Amb. Dizon-De Vega with KOIMA Chairman Kim Byung-kwan.

04 July 2023, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega attended the opening ceremony of the Korea Import Fair (KIF) 2023 on 29 June 2023 at COEX, Seoul. Chairman Kim Byung-kwan of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) led the opening ceremony together with ROK Minister for Trade Ahn Duk-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) as special guest. Also gracing the event were foreign Ambassadors in the Republic of Korea and other KOIMA officers.

PH participation in the fair was led by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center – Seoul headed by Commercial Counselor Jose Ma “Jojie” Dinsay. The Philippine booth featured world class coconut products in support of the Philippine coconut industry. Items like Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic RBD Coconut Oil and other coconut-based food products like vinegar, snacks, liquor and sugar were featured in the Coconut Philippines booth.

This year’s KIF was held from 29 June to 1 July 2023 at COEX, Seoul, organized by KOIMA. KOIMA, which was established in December 1970, is the only Korean business association that focuses on facilitating the entry of products from around the world into Korea and linking Korean companies with foreign suppliers. END

PH EMBASSY WELCOMES FILIPINO STUDENTS IN A SUMMER SALO-SALO EVENT

PR MTD 87 2023 Summer Salo Salo with Filipino Students in ROK

27 June 2023, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega welcomed Filipino students in South Korea to a “Summer Salo-Salo” event on 27 June 2023 at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. Around 80 students attended the gathering, designed to bring together Filipino students from different Korean universities. The students likewise took part in fun games and enjoyed Filipino food.

In her remarks, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega welcomed students to South Korea and encouraged them to take all available opportunities to learn more about their respective fields of interests and be good ambassadors of the Philippines to South Korea. She also emphasized the importance of coming together and becoming each other’s support system in difficult times. She also assured them of the Philippine Embassy’s support during their stay in Korea.

As of May 2023, South Korea is home to at least 500 Filipino students who are taking various courses in the fields of language, art, business, development and science and technology, among others. A number of students are members of the Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea (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

PHILIPPINES JOINS ACTIVITIES IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 73RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR; PAYS TRIBUTE TO PEFTOK

Philippine Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega (Upper left photo, in blue) is joined by the descendants of Korean War veterans at the commemorative ceremony for the 73^rd anniversary of the Korean War held at the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on 25 June 2023. (Upper right photo) Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. delivers a special message in the commemoration of the 73^rd Anniversary of the Korean War at the Korean War Monument in Goyang City on 25 June 2023. Ambassador Dizon-de Vega (Lower left, 3^rd from R) and PH Embassy officials with the representatives of the Korea Focus Institute and Best Advance Society. (Lower left) Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. (3^rd from R) and Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Enriqueto Deocadez Jr. (2^nd from L) are joined by Goyang City Mayor Lee Dong-Hwan (2^nd from R), Goyang City Vice Mayor Park Won-Seok (3^rd from L) in a photo opportunity.

SEOUL - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul is one with the Republic of Korea in commemorating the 73^rd anniversary of the Korean War. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega attended the commemorative ceremony for the 73rd anniversary of the Korean War hosted by the ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs that was held at the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on 25 June 2023.

The event was attended by Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, Minister of Defense Lee Jong Sup, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Minshik, Minister of Justice Han Doong Hoon, representatives of the UN Sending States, veterans of the Korean War, and their descendants. At the end of the event, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega joined descendants of Filipino veterans of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) who are taking part in a camp organized by the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

On 23 June 2023, Ambassador Dizon-de Vega with other Philippine Embassy officials attended the 8^th Annual Ceremony of the UN Allied Countries Flag Garden in commemoration of the Korean War. In her remarks the Ambassador paid tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives to the efforts to defend democracy on the Korean Peninsula. She likewise congratulated the Best Advance Society and Korea Focus Institute which established the flag garden for their continuing tribute to the countries who helped in the Korean War. The civic groups are composed of mainly of Yonsei University faculty and alumni.

Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. and Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Enriqueto Deocadez Jr. also attended the commemoration of the 73^rd Anniversary of the Korean War hosted by the Goyang Special Administrative City at the Korean War Memorial in Gwansan-dong, Deokyang-gu on 25 June 2023. Goyang City is home to a large Korean moment built in honor of the Filipino soldiers who served during the Korean War.

During the solemn activity, Minister and Consul General Israel Jr. offered flowers and lit incense, and in his message, expressed appreciation and respect to the sacrifices made by the war veterans.

It is important for the Philippines to continue to honor the valor and sacrifice of the 7,420 Filipino officers who served under the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK). Our Filipino soldiers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Korean military personnel and soldiers from other countries to valiantly fight for freedom and democracy during the 1950 Korean War. Our shared sacrifices during the war paved the way for the deep, historic, and dynamic partnership the Philippines and the Republic of Korea enjoy today. END