MANILA, Philippines — Bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Korea are now stronger than ever as the two nations mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, celebrating decades of “friendship forged in blood” between brothers-in-arms who fought side-by-side during the Korean War.
For South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol who arrived for a two-day visit to Manila yesterday, Filipinos will continue to hold a special place in the hearts of South Koreans as the first Southeast Asian country to establish diplomatic ties with Korea in 1949.
“It is a great pleasure to visit the Philippines, a long-standing friend and partner of Korea, especially in this meaningful year marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries,” he told The STAR as he thanked Filipinos for the warm welcome and President Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos for the invitation.
Yoon noted that although his visit is brief, he looks forward to having in-depth discussions with Marcos on matters of mutual interest including his intent of “presenting a vision for the future that will elevate our bilateral relations to a new level by establishing a Strategic Partnership between our two countries.”
“The Philippines is rapidly developing with the benefit of its young and dynamic demographics and abundant resources. Meanwhile, Korea possesses strong capabilities in manufacturing and high-tech industries. For these reasons, the potential for our bilateral cooperation is tremendous,” he said.
Yoon said he hopes to further expand bilateral trade and investment that have been pivotal in driving the development of bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Korea.
“At the same time, I intend to broaden the scope of our collaboration to such areas as supply chains, infrastructure, energy, digital technology and defense. Moreover, based on our mutual trust and friendship, the two countries will further enhance communication and collaboration on regional and international affairs,” he added.
Yoon said his visit will not be all business as he also looks forward to experience Filipino culture, food and tourist attractions that many Koreans love as evidenced by how 1.45 million Koreans visited the Philippines last year.
“During my visit, I plan to lay a wreath at the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park, a site that symbolizes the national development and patriotic spirit of the Philippines. I will pay tribute and pay my respects to those who dedicated themselves to the independence and national development of the Philippines. Reflecting on the common aspects of our histories – having overcome colonial rule and advanced as independent nations – I will renew my commitment to further deepening the ties between our two countries,” he said.
The South Korean leader said 2024 will be a turning point for the two nation’s bilateral relations to take another leap forward.
“First of all, we will continue to strengthen the economic cooperation which has been a strong driving force behind the development of bilateral relations. In particular, when the Korea-Philippines FTA (free trade agreement) signed last year comes into effect, it will dramatically expand trade and investment and bring substantial benefits to businesses and peoples of both countries,” he said.
Yoon said the Philippines and South Korea will strengthen cooperation in sectors that are spearheading the development and transformation of the global economy, such as critical minerals, energy and digital transformation and in doing so, “we will advance our bilateral relations with the future in sight.”
He emphasized that it is also important for the two countries to strengthen strategic communication on regional situation and jointly respond to global challenges such as geopolitical conflicts, supply chain crises and climate change.
Asked about how South Korea continues to be so grateful that Filipinos came to help during the Korean War, he pointed-out that when Korea was in great peril due to North Korea’s invasion, “the Philippines was the first Asian country to send troops, and 7,420 Filipino veterans of the Korean War distinguished themselves in major battles during the war.