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

When people think of the Philippines, many immediately picture beautiful resort destinations such as Cebu, Boracay, and Bohol. But the Philippines is more than just a scenic vacation spot—it is a close and long-standing friend, and a cherished partner.

The Philippines, with a land area 1.3 times that of the Korean Peninsula, over 7,000 islands, and a vibrant population of around 110 million, is geographically the closest Southeast Asian country to Korea. Historical records—such as Joseon-era fisherman Moon Soon-deuk drifting ashore and staying for nine months in Luzon in the early 19th century, Father Kim Dae-geon studying theology in Manila and Bulacan in 1837, and Dosan Ahn Chang-ho’s visit in 1929 to seek a new base for the independence movement alongside 50 resident Koreans—illustrate the long and deep-rooted ties between Korea and the Philippines.

Moreover, on March 3, 1949, the Philippines became the fifth country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea. It was also the first Asian nation—and the one that deployed the largest number of troops, 7,420 soldiers—to fight alongside Korea during the Korean War to defend freedom and democracy.

Building on this historical bond, Korea and the Philippines have walked a long path of friendship, steadily expanding cooperation across a wide range of fields, including politics, economy, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

In 2024, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a “strategic partnership” and agreed to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure, energy, defense industry, critical minerals, and tourism. Since the Korea-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into effect in December 2024, economic cooperation has been further enhanced, with expanding collaboration in strategic industries such as shipbuilding and semiconductors, as well as in promising sectors including food.

This has provided a foundation for active high-level exchanges between the two countries across multiple fronts since the inauguration of Korea’s new government in June 2025, including a telephone conversation between the two leaders, President Marcos’ visit to Korea to attend the APEC Leaders’ Meeting, a meeting between the two foreign ministers on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, the 9th Korea–Philippines Policy Consultation between the vice foreign ministers, the 4th Korea–Philippines Maritime Dialogue, and the 6th Korea–Philippines Consular Consultations.

Going forward, Korea and the Philippines will further deepen this cooperation to give greater substance to their Strategic Partnership. In addition, the Philippines’ assumption of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026 presents key opportunities for Korea and the Philippines to deepen cooperation for regional stability and prosperity. As vital partners in regional multilateral cooperation, we will pursue mutual interests through close coordination and strive to achieve tangible outcomes for sustainable growth.

Thanks to shared cultural values—such as strong family ties, the use of honorific language, and a respect for tradition paired with openness to foreign influence—the Korean Wave (Hallyu), which began with K-pop and K-dramas, has expanded into K-beauty and K-food, all warmly embraced by the Filipino public. Additionally, with one in four foreign tourists in the Philippines being Korean, vibrant people-to-people exchanges are laying a solid foundation for the advancement of bilateral ties.

Since its establishment as a Legation in Manila in 1954, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines has served as a guiding force in advancing bilateral relations. Moving forward, under the banner of pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interest, the Embassy will do its utmost to promote a future-oriented and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. In particular, amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainties—such as U.S.-China strategic rivalry and rising protectionism and unilateralism—we will actively pursue Korea’s “K-Initiatives” to further strengthen substantial cooperation with the Philippines, one of our key regional allies.

We appreciate your continued interest and support for the Philippines and our Embassy.

Maraming salamat po!