Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines

Aside from the major allied powers of World War II, the Philippines was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea, marking a long-standing and strong partnership which includes the sending of approximately 7,400 Filipino soldiers to participate in the Korean War. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on March 3, 1949, the two countries have built a solid cooperative relationship across various fields, from politics and the economy, to cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges.

Over the years, the special friendship and bond that have developed between Korea and the Philippines became even stronger and laid the foundation for elevating our bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership" during the visit of our President to the Philippines in October 2024, the first state visit in thirteen years.

Additionally, the leaders of both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in several key areas, including infrastructure, energy (such as nuclear power), defense industry, critical minerals, maritime affairs, and tourism. The Korea-Philippines Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect in December 2024, is expected to further stimulate trade and investment between the two nations.

The Korean Wave (K-pop, K-Drama) has expanded to K-Food, becoming an integral part of daily life for many Filipinos. Moreover, various programs such as the GKS Scholarship Program and KOICA training programs have facilitated active people-to-people exchanges, providing a strong foundation for the further advancement of bilateral relations. The opening of the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) in Manila in August 2023 has also played a significant role in motivating more Filipinos to visit Korea.

Our Embassy has been a part of the journey in developing the relationship between our two countries for over half a century. We will continue to make every effort to further advance bilateral relations. In line with our government's vision of becoming a global pivotal country, we will work to strengthen practical cooperation with the Philippines, an ASEAN founding member, through the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI).

Maraming salamat po!