KOREA BULLETIN The official publication of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea
FROM
THE
APRIL 2019
AMBASSADOR‘S
DESK
HAN Dong-man, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary
On 3 March 2019, we reached another milestone in Korea-Philippine relations. The date marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries. The Philippines was the fifth state and the first ASEAN country to recognize the Republic of Korea as a sovereign state. The Philippines was also the first Asian country to send troops to Korea during the Korean War. Out of the 7,420 members of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) who fought in Korea from 1950-1955, 112 perished, 313 were wounded, and many returned home as heroes, one of whom – Fidel V. Ramos – became President of the Philippines. The noble sacrifice of these brave Filipinos is something that Koreans will never forget. Since that time, we have enjoyed a unique relationship built on friendship and mutual cooperation. As a result, Korea is now the 4th largest trading partner of the Philippines. Bilateral trade in 2018 was US$15.6 billion (up by 9.3% from 2017). According to the
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Department of Foreign Affairs, there were around 70,085 Filipinos living in South Korea as of May 2018. On the other hand, at least 100,000 Koreans reside in the Philippines, while 1.6 million Korean tourists visited the Philippines in 2018. In the meantime, we are holding many events this year that are intended to celebrate 70 years of partnership: concerts; travel and tourism fairs; art and food shows; an infrastructure forum and a job fair; a film and a taekwondo festival; cultural exchanges; events to commemorate the Korean War; a Public Diplomacy Dialogue; and a Friendship Parade. The 2019 K-Pop Friendship Concert in Manila was attended by thousands of K-Pop and Korean culture fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last 7 March. The concert was perceived to be a fine approach to living in the modern world, one of many different ways to understand the culture of other countries. On 25 June, there will also be a Korean War Memorial Peace Concert, to be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It will feature the Phil-
ippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the Seocho Philharmoniker under the baton of maestro Jong-hoon Bae. The concert is meant to honor the soldiers who gave up their lives during the Korean War. Though founded on the blood sacrifice of noble men, the concert will be a truly magical celebration of friendship and peace. It is worth mentioning that the Friendship Parade scheduled on 2 June has the apt theme “March Together to the Next 70 Years” because it demonstrates the wonderful friendship that the Korean and Filipino nation and people have shared in the past 70 years. Aside from the parade, there will be a Philippine traditional dance performance, a taekwondo exhibition, and a performance of pungmul nori, the Korean traditional folk music that includes, dancing, singing, and drumming. Providentially, the parade will start and end at the historic Quirino Grandstand, named after Elpidio Quirino, the President of the Philippines who ordered the deployment of Filipinos to fight under the United Nations flag during the Korean
War. I firmly believe that we need to keep enhancing our mutual understanding in order to enrich our countries’ relationship in the next 70 years. President Rodrigo Duterte and President Moon Jae-in have agreed to designate the year 2019 as the year of mutual exchange. The House of Representative of the Philippines mirrored this sentiment in a resolution passed last February. For my part, I hope that there will be many opportunities for us to experience each other’s culture this year that will further strengthen this relationship. Based on what we have achieved in the past seven decades, I am optimistic that our countries’ friendship will indeed flourish in the coming years. It is my hope that in the next 70 years, relations between Korea and the Philippines will remain as warm and sunny as the summer days in this tropical paradise that I have come to regard as my home away from home.
Officials of the Korean National Assembly visit Angat Dam
PH House of Representatives Declare 2019 as “PH and ROK Year of Mutual Exchange”
PH House of Representatives Cites President Moon’s Peace Efforts
Araw Contingent veterans society visits the Philippines on the 5th anniversary of dispatch
Korean firm to Build P 11-B Iloilo Mega Dam
KOREA BULLETIN
Mabuhay tayong lahat!
2019 K-pop Friendship Concert in Manila Formally Opens “Year of Mutual Exchange”
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Officials of the Korean National Assembly visit Angat Dam
Joo Seungyong, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, and Lim Jongseong, a member of the National Assembly, visited Angat Dam last March 16. They were accompanied by Ms. DA Bobby, Deputy Administrator of the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). They visited the Philippines to attend the prestigious AWC (Asia Water Council) International Conference on March 13. Angat multi-purpose dam supplies water to 97% of Metro Manila residents, accounting
for about 2.2 billion cubic meters per year. The dam is being operated jointly by San Miguel Corporation and K-Water, a Korean public water resources corporation. Deputy Chairman Joo thanked AWC CEO Kee Uk Cha and the members of his staff for their efforts in providing safe and stable water supply to 12 million citizens in Metro Manila. Deputy Chairman Joo also requested stronger cooperation with the Philippines water management organizations for the active promotion of technical exchanges.
The House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines has adopted on second reading House Resolution No. 2492 that designates 2019 as “The Year of Mutual Exchange between Philippines and Korea” in commemoration of the 70 years of Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations. The resolution principally authored by Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. states that since the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 1949, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea have been cooperating in the areas of political, economic and sociocultural relations; strategic partnership; and people-to-people exchanges. Under the resolution, it noted that the Philippines was one of the first countries to help South Korea during the Korean War in the 1950s, by deploying the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) composed of
7,420 soldiers. Also, the resolution states that “the Republic of Korea has been an important economic partner of the Philippines being the country’s fourth largest trading partner with a total trade of about USD 12.8 billion as of 2017; sixth highest development partner which has granted ODA (Official Development Assistance) of USD 570.50 million loans (USD 480.74 million loans, USD 89.86 million grants) in 2017; and top source of tourist arrivals reaching 1.6 million in 2017.” It further states that the Republic of Korea has been assisting the Philippines in enhancing its military logistics and financial assistance in support of the government’s anti-terrorism campaign. The resolution also cites that the Republic of Korea has been a generous host to number of Filipino migrant workers estimated to have reached 67,400 as of 2017.
PH House of Representatives Declare 2019 as “PH and ROK Year of Mutual Exchange”
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(source: Congress.gov.ph)
Araw Contingent Veterans Society Visits the Philippines on the 5th Anniversary of Dispatch
Joint volunteer Armed forces to the Philippines, also known as the Araw Contingent, was a joint dispatch unit composed of Korean Army, Navy and Air forces and was the first example in Korean history of an overseas troop deployment sent for humanitarian purposes at the direct request of a disaster-stricken nation and not of United Nations. The Araw Contingent was deployed to show gratitude to the Philippines, a member of the UN allied forces that took part in the Korean War. To commemorate the actions of the Araw Contingent, the governor of Leyte, Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla and the mayors of Palo, Tanawan, and Tolosa came together to welcome Colonel LEE Chul Won and members of the Araw Veterans Society for the 5th-anniversary ceremony marking of their dispatch. Governor Petilla, who hosted the event said, “The disaster relief activities of the Korean Araw Contingent gave us renewed hope and courage when we were struck with grief after the losses due to the typhoon.” He also stated that even though the act of kindness can never be sufficiently repaid, the event was held as a small gesture of gratitude towards the Araw Contingent. The commander of the Araw Contingent Colonel Lee Chul Won, who attended the events as the Korean rep-
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resentative, stated that even though the Araw Contingent has been dissolved, he hopes that their memories continue to give hope to the people of the Philippines. He also promised that the Araw Veterans Society would continue to support various long-term businesses to foster friendship between Korea and the Philippines, including the Araw Heavy Equipment Vocational School and the Araw Korean Language Classroom. The Araw Contingent served with utmost dedication and passion during its typhoon relief activities, with the idea that the Philippines’ commitment to the Korean War must be repaid in kind. At present, former members of the Araw Contingent who are now acting as members of the Araw Veterans Society prepared a special event during their visit. The team granted scholarship funds and gave words of encouragement to students at the 13 elementary schools restored by the Araw Contingent. The members also visited the two Filipino Korean War veterans supported by the Araw Contingent during its deployment and presented medals crafted by the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to honor their sacrifice during the Korean War, as well as heartfelt words of gratitude.
Korean firm to Build P 11-B Iloilo Mega Dam
The Philippine government has begun constructing the PHP11.2-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) II in Iloilo, the largest dam outside of Luzon. The project, which the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) aims to open by 2022, is funded by the Republic of Korea with PHP8.9-billion through its Economic Cooperation Development Fund (EDCF), while the remaining P2.2 billion are shouldered by the Philippine government. Daewoo Engineering and Construction, a Korean construction firm, will implement the project. The ceremonial groundbreaking was held last February and was attended by NIA Administrator General Ricardo Visaya and Regional Manager Gerardo Corsiga, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., South Korea’s Minister-Counsellor and Head of Economic Trade and Official Development Assistance Department Kim Sonyoung, and Export-Import Bank of Ko-
rea’s Senior Executive Director Shin Deog-Young. The event at Barangay Agcalaga, Calinog in Iloilo was organized by the NIA and was led by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon who backed the implementation of JRMP II. “The groundbreaking is only a ceremonial event which formally signals the start and therefore, no one is prejudiced when resetting of the groundbreaking because what is important is the NIA had started three months ago in accordance with the timetable,” Senator Drilon said in a press briefing. Upon completion, the dam will improve the lives of 25,000 farmers by doubling rice production to nearly 300,000 metric tons per year and improving the average yield of farmlands to 5.1 metric tons per hectare. It will also provide 86,400 cubic meters of potable water daily and generate 6.6 megawatts of hydroelectric power.
Quezon City Rep. Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr. has cited the Lower Chamber’s adoption of House Resolution 2491 “Recognizing and fully supporting the efforts of South Korean President Moon Jae-in to bring peace, reconciliation, prosperity, and stability in the Korean Peninsula.” Under HR 2491, the House of Representatives “notes with keen interest the developments in the Korean Peninsula.” The resolution also cited that the leaders of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic Republic of Korea recently engaged in a series of diplomatic efforts in order to achieve permanent peace in the Korean Peninsula. President Moon attended three rounds of high level discussions held on April 27 and
May 26, 2018 at Panmunjeom, located in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, and, in September 18 to 20, 2018 at Pyongyang, North Korea to meet with Chairman Kim Jong-un of the Democratic Republic of Korea. “As a result of the efforts of President Moon Jae-in, the South Korea and North Korea have agreed to adopt a set of concrete measures to completely denuclearize the Peninsula and the latter has committed to permanently dismantle the Dongchang-ri missile engine test site and launch a platform to permanently close its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon under the observation of experts from interested countries participating in the process”, HR 2491 states.
Ambassador’s Activities
On March 18, Ambassador HAN visited UP Diliman and gave a lecture titled, “Vision for Peace in the Korean Peninsula and the Philippines-Korea Relations.” Ambassador HAN discussed the outcomes of 2018 Inter-Korean Summits and US-DPRK Summits, as well as how the Korean government is improving diplomatic relations with the Philippines as 2019 is the 70th anniversary of Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations.
On February 12, 2019, Ambassador Han Dong-man visited the Philippine Military Academy and had a lecture on the current issues of the Korean Peninsula as well as Korea-Philippine bilateral relations and future prospects.
PH House of Representatives Cites President Moon’s Peace Efforts
During his visit to Baguio, Ambassador Han Dong-man met with officials from Department of Labor and Employment, Alien Control Baguio Immigration Field Office, and Bureau of Internal Revenue on February 11, to request for stronger security for the Korean community in Baguio.
Notice on Change of Visa Processing Period from April 1, 2019 From April 1, 2019, visa processing period of temporary visitor’s visa (C-3) will be increased from 3 days (frequent travelers) and 5 days (first-time travelers) to 7 working days (same for both first time and frequent travelers) due to the increasing number of Korean visa applicants. Visa applications other than temporary visitor’s visa (C3) will take 5 working days. There will be no changes in the processing period of visa issuance number holders (2 work-
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ing days), seafarers scheduled to embark in Korea (2 working days), and spouse visa (15 working days). For those who need rush processing of visa due to personal reasons, they may avail the existing express visa processing system (2 days processing, express fee $20). For those who wish to apply for the Korean visa, please consider the changed processing period and submit your visa applications early.
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art & culture
2019 K-pop Friendship Concert in Manila Formally Opens “Year of Mutual Exchange”
(K-pop Group NCT DREAM)
A symbolic throwing of paper planes led by (from left) Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vice Minister Kim Yong-sam, and National Archives of the Philippines Executive Director Victorino Mapa Manalo together with the Korean and Filipino kids was held prior to the concert.
Kicking off a year-long celebration commemorating the 70 years of friendship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, the 2019 K-Pop Friendship Concert in Manila drew in thousands of Korean Pop music and Korean culture enthusiasts at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last 7 March, Thursday.
Before the concert, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) Vice Minister KIM Yong-sam, Korean Ambassador HAN Dong-man and National Archives of the Philippines Executive Director Victorino Mapa Manalo talked with the press about the lineup of activities for the 70th Anniversary of Philippines-Korea
KCC Celebrates Centennial Anniversary of Korean Independence Movement with a Free Film Screening
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Diplomatic Relations. Popular Filipino band Silent Sanctuary officially opened the concert proper and Kpop groups Noir, April and NCT Dream wowed the crowd with their powerful performances. Aside from the performances of both Filipino and Korean artists, a symbolic throwing of paper planes led by Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vice Minister Kim Yong-sam, and National Archives of the
Philippines Executive Director Victorino Mapa Manalo together with the Korean and Filipino kids was also held. These paper planes hold the hopes and wish of both the Philippines and Korea for a harmonious cultural exchange and develop a strong relationship between two countries. The 2019 Kpop Friendship Concert is part of the yearlong activities of Korea and the Philippines for the 70th Anniversary of PhilippinesKorea Diplomatic Relations.
Korean Cultural Center in partnership with Film Development Council of the Philippines, The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, and Shangri-la Plaza organized a special film screening event for the centennial year of Republic of Korea’s March 1 Independence Movement and Korea provisional government on April 6 to 7, 2019 at Shangri-la Plaza Cinema 4. The special screening titled “Remembering the Heroes” featured two films that exhibit the stories of the people who fought for the freedom of the Korean people. The opening film, “Man of Will,” is about Young Kim Chang-Soom who was charged with murdering a Japanese man who took part in Empress Myeongseong’s assassination. Inside the prison, he sees how Koreans are persecuted and grow into a fighter for Korean independence. “The Last Princess” is about Princess Deokhye, the last princess of the Joseon Dynasty who was taken to Japan as a hostage. As
she struggles to maintain hope of the Korean people, her childhood friend travels to Japan on a mission to bring her back to Korea. Korea’s Independence Movement Day or Samiljeol is a public holiday in Korea dedicated to the non-violent street protests that took place on March 1, 1919, one of the earliest public demonstrations of Korean resistance during the Japanese occupation. This event is followed with the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai, China on April 11, 1919. Korean activists who were carrying out independence activities in Shanghai joined forces with members of the New Korea Youth Association who had fled to Shanghai after the March 1st Independence Movement. They organized the Provisional Legislative Assembly and launched the Korean Provisional Government as a democratic republic form of government. Admission to the film screening is free.
KOREA BULLETIN