By Lee Kap-soo

Dear readers of Diplomacy Journal,

Philippines and Korea relations ended 2023 on a high note with a number of milestones, increased exchanges, and a re-affirmation of our commitment to common goals based on shared values. 

One of the highlights was the signing of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement on September 7, 2023 at the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta by Philippine Trade and Industry Minister Alfredo Pascual and Korea Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun and witnessed by Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. 

The past year was likewise very significant with the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement, the Philippines being among the countries which sent troops during the Korean War. As we look forward to a milestone 75th anniversary of our relations in 2024, there is much to celebrate and also much to look forward to in our relations. 

As 2024 unfolds, we will be working on the ratification, promotion, and implementation of the FTA early in the year. The Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry will work with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) to develop an FTA utilization tracker that would monitor the implementation of trade agreements. 

We will also build on the various Memoranda of Understanding on Intellectual Property Rights Matters, Public Procurement Cooperation, and Marriage Migrants Welfare, among others. We will likewise work on initiatives agreed upon under important bilateral dialogue mechanisms in 2023: the Philippines-Korea Policy Consultations, Philippines-Korea Joint Consular Cooperation Meeting, and the Philippines-Korea Maritime Cooperation Dialogue. On the policy side we will be working on a major deliverable in 2024, the elevation of our Philippines-Korea bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership and the exchanges of high-level visits between our officials.

As we commemorate 75 years of history and forward-looking relations, we will be holding a number of events covering the major facets of our relations from political, defense-security, economic, tourism, agriculture, labor and migration, science and technology, climate change, green technology, digitalization, sports, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges. 

We will also strive to increase the presence of the Philippines in Korea and will inaugurate a Philippine Experience Space at our Embassy for the creation of video materials on the Philippines. 

As we face the challenges and opportunities the new year brings, it is my wish that we will all work together for the attainment of a peaceful, sustainable, and prosperous future for all. 

Mabuhay and Happy 2023!