KOREA BULLETIN The official publication of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea
FROM
THE
JULY 2019
AMBASSADOR‘S
DESK
HAN Dong-man, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary
As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Philippines this year, I am simply overwhelmed by the amount of support and cooperation I have seen among Filipinos and Koreans in this country. From the young to the old, their strong friendship was palpable in many of the occasions that were held in celebration of this Platinum Jubilee year. Young Filipinos who have worked in Korea and Koreans who are moving up in the world came in droves last June 1st to attend the Philippine-Korea Job Fair. The following day, thousands joined the Phil-Kor Friendship Parade Festival in Manila, which culminated at the historic Quirino Grandstand. By coincidence, this stage was named after former President Elpidio Quirino, who sent Filipino troops to fight in the Korean War as part of a United Nations contin-
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gent. However, the best parts of this quarter were the events that honored the Korean War veterans. During the Korean War Memorial Day celebration on June 24th, I had the opportunity to tell the surviving members of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea and their descendants that freedom is not free, and that I strongly believe today’s Korea would not be enjoying peace, democracy, and economic prosperity without their great sacrifice. The next day, I joined in welcoming and honoring these veterans at the Korean War Memorial Peace Concert held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. A good crowd of Koreans and Filipinos, a total of 1650 people, were in attendance, including Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, Senator Franklin Drilon, Ambassa-
dors, and Korean community leaders. Fittingly, the theme of the concert was meant to honor the Korean War veterans. Since music is a universal language, we thought of using music to continue honoring the sacrifice and the great devotion, dedication and contribution of the Korean War veterans. I am proud to say that the concert was a huge success. Not only did it showcase the talent of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the Seocho Philharmoniker, but it also introduced traditional Korean music to the Filipino audience. It was not just an evening of music but more importantly a moment that celebrated the peace that was born from the ashes of a devastating war. As aptly put by NCCA Executive Director Rico Pableo, “While we may differ in different aspects, we find that we share a culture that thrives in the excellence of the arts
and deeply-rooted ideals of peace and unity.” Exemplifying such unity was a pair of performers, Korean baritone Byeong In Park and his Filipino wife, soprano Rachelle Gerodias. I believe the concert also offered a great opportunity to introduce Philippine tourism to Korea. I have made it one of my missions to increase the number of Korean tourists visiting the country, so the concert was just one of the many ways I could reach this objective. I am quite optimistic that the wonderful partnership of the Philippines and Korea will be further strengthened through collaborative efforts, such as musical extravaganzas like the peace concert. For the remainder of 2019, Filipinos and Koreans can expect more activities that have been lined up to observe 70 years of friendship between the Philippines and Korea.
Korean Embassy Honors War Heroes through Korean War Memorial Peace Concert
Filipino, Koreans Land Job at 2019 Korea-Philippines Job Fair
‘Global Taste of Korea’ cooking competition highlights PH, Korea elements
PH, Korea Celebrate 70th Anniversary Diplomatic Ties through Friendship Parade
Bucheon City, Korea Business and Product Exhibition 2019
Thousands of Korean Enthusiasts Flocked at First-ever K Street Festival
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PH, Korea Celebrate 70th Anniversary Korean Embassy Honors War Heroes through Korean War Memorial Peace Diplomatic Ties through Friendship Parade To mark the 70th year an- Years the parade started at 6 Concert niversary of Philippines and AM from the Quirino Grand
Korean Ambassador HAN Dong-man delivers his opening speech during the Korean War Memorial War Peace Concert.
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines together with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Patriotic Culture Association and National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), organized the “Korean War Memorial Peace Concert” last June 25, 2019 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo Theater of Cultural Center of the Philippines. The Philippine Harmonic Orchestra, Seocho Philharmoniker, and conductor Bae Jong-hoon spearheaded the concert Before the concert started, the audience paid a silent tribute to the Filipino and Korean veterans of the Korean War. In his speech, Korean Ambassador HAN Dong-man recalled the great sacrifice of the war veterans saying, “more than 7,000 Filipino soldiers came to South Korea to defend its freedom and democracy. I strongly believe that this Korea
will not be enjoying its freedom and economic prosperity without the noble and great sacrifice of the Filipino people and veterans. Indeed, they deserve the title of a hero.” Korean war veterans present in the event were very glad that their sacrifices are still remembered up to this day. “It brings a lot of memories like the hardships that we had. We are very lucky that we survived,” said Korean war veteran Maximo Young The Philippines is the first country in Asia and third country around the world to send soldiers in the Korean War. Among the performers at the concert were Canadian trumpeter Jens Lindemann, Baritone PARK Byeong-in and his wife world-renowned Filipino Soprano Rachelle Gerodias, concertmaster violinist KIM Kyung-ah and MOON Yang-sook with her Gayageum ensemble.
Korea diplomatic relations, Korean Sports Council of the Philippine (KSC Phil) and United Korean Community Association in Phil (UKCA) together with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, Metropolitan City of Manila, and Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) recently held the “PHIL-KOR 70th Anniversary Diplomatic Relations Friendship Parade” on June 9, 2019 at Quirino Grand Stand, Manila City. With the theme “Marching Together for the Next 70
Filipino, Koreans Land Job at 2019 Korea-Philippines Job Fair
The Embassy of Korea in the Philippines held the 2019 Korea-Philippines Job Fair last June 1, 2019, Saturday at Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati. “There are many returning [Filipino] workers from Korea. They are very dedicated and devoted. I am sure participating companies would want to employ them here in the Philippines,” said Ambassador HAN Dong-man.
The Philippine Harmonic Orchestra and Seocho Philharmoniker during the The Korean Memorial War Peace Concert last June 25, 2019 at CCP.
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Stand, passing by Roxas Boulevard, Rajah Sulayman Park, and back to the Grand Stand. After the parade, cultural exchange programs prepared by both countries such as Taekwondo demonstration of the Kukkiwon Demonstration Team of Korea, and Korean traditional musical performance (Pung-mul Nori), Philippine traditional dance and K-pop performances of Kpop groups MFECT and Pink Fantasy were prepared for the parade participants.
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Around 40 local and Korean companies such as Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), Asurion Customer Solution Philippines (BPO), Widus Hotel and Amore Pacific participated in the job fair. The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) was also present to assist the returning Filipino workers from Korea to find employment in the Philippines.
20 Pinoy K-pop Star Finalists Revealed
KCC announced the 20 individuals and performance teams selected to compete on this year’s 2019 Pinoy K-pop Star. 10 individuals and teams from both performance and vocal category are set to compete to the competition which is the Philippine round of the Changwon Kpop World Festival. For the performance category Kpop cover groups Candice, Yara, Magnitude 7.2, Principium, Amuse, Bright, Eenie Meenie, Pentakill, De7usion, and Mix’in will be competing against each other. Vocal category contestants are
April Rose Tolentino, John Paul Manuel, Gemmalyn Kitane, Julie Ann Campolo, Rogie Ann Meria, Merry Mia Sinaguinan, MMM, Erica Canice Lontoc, Hazelyn Grace Dequit and 200 Percent. The grand prize winners for both performance and vocal categories will receive 20,000 pesos and will represent the Philippines in the 1st Round of Semi-Finals (online) of the 2019 Changwon Kpop World Festival. The 2019 Pinoy Kpop Star grand finals will be held on July 27, 2019, 4 PM at Samsung Hall, SM Aura, Taguig City. Admission to the event is Free.
‘Global Taste of Korea’ cooking competition highlights PH, Korea elements Contestants cook Philippine-Korea fusion dishes, authentic Korean stews
(Fusion Battle Grand Prize Winner Nina Rizzi Kaye Timbol (center) with Chef Gavin Russell of LPU Culinary Institute (left) and KCC Director Lee Jincheol)
In line with the year-long celebration of PhilippinesKorea 70th year of bilateral relations, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) recently held the 2019 Global Taste of Korea cooking competition on June 15, 2019, at LPU Culinary Institute Manila. Eighteen contestants joined the cooking competition which hosted two categories this year namely Fusion and Jjigae (Korea stew) Battle. Each contestant was tasked to create a dish using both Filipino and Korean flavors for the Fusion battle,
while for the Jjigae battle, the contestants were tasked to recreate Korean stew dishes. For this year, Ester Monett Diaz, a 61-year-old Nutritionist-Dietitian from Muntinlupa City was named the grand winner for the Jjigae Category. Diaz presented ‘Shrimp Chicken Doenjang Jjigae’ dish to the judges, which was inspired by her late mother’s chicken pastel and seafood sinigang. She brought home 15,000 pesos cash prize and a roundtrip ticket to Korea courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization. Nina Rizzi Kaye Timbol,
Thousands of Korean Enthusiasts Flocked at First-ever K Street Festival
Thousands of Korean culture fans gathered at the first-ever K Street Festival on May 31 to June 1, 2019, at C1 Park High Street BGC, hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC), in partnership with United Korean Community Association, Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Bonifacio High Street. The attendees experienced a variety of activities such as food stalls, drama screenings, hanbok wearing experience, photobooth, K-pop, and beauty product selling, minhwa workshop, and Korean traditional game experience. Aside from the fun activi-
ties the Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team from Korea, SB19 and the 2018 Pinoy K-pop Star winners K-IDLE, Kaiju-x, Mix’in, John Paul Manuel, Sandra dela Cruz, and Venisse Nicole Siy entertained the crowd with their outstanding demonstration and performances. The festival was held to celebrate Phil-Kor 70th anniversary diplomatic relations. KCC Director Lee Jincheol commented about the event saying, “This event not only made us enjoy more of the Korean culture but also opened the minds of Filipinos in the different sides of Korea.”
an 18-year-old student from Tagaytay City, won this year’s Fusion battle category with her dish “Samgye-Tinola.” Samgye-Tinola is a fusion of the popular Korean Ginseng Soup “Samgyetang” and Filipino dish “Tinola.” Aside from winning the grand prize and 15,000 pesos cash, Timbol, who got the highest score among the contestants, received the roundtrip ticket to Korea courtesy of Korea Food Promotion Institute and will get a chance to compete at the Global Taste of Korea grand finals in Korea. The competition was presented by Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines and Embassy of the Republic of
Korea in the Philippines in partnership with Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Culinary Institute and Korea Tourism Organization. The 2019 Global Taste of Korea was hosted by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Korea Food Promotion Institute. This year’s panel of judges was composed of KCC Director LEE Jincheol, KCC cooking class instructor and Author of ‘Easy Korean Food 114’ Lily Min, Chef Gavin Russell of Director of LPU Culinary Institute, and celebrity chef and consultant Chef Reggie Aspiras.
(Jjigae Battle Grand Prize Winner Ester Monett Diaz (second to the right) receives her prize awarded by KCC Director Lee Jincheol (from left) and Chef Gavin Russell)
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Bucheon City, Korea Business and Product Exhibition 2019
Korean War Memorial Day Ceremony held Filipino Korean War Veterans were once again remembered at the recently held Korean War Memorial Day Ceremony at the Korean War Memorial Pylon Libingan ng mga Bayani, Taguig City. The relationship between the Philippines and Korea strengthened when the Philippines became the first Asian country to send its troops on the Korean peninsula in 1950. “Freedom is not free. I strongly believe that this Korea would not be enjoying peace, democracy, and economic
prosperity without the great sacrifice of the Korean War Veterans,” Ambassador HAN Dong-man said in his speech. 800 out of the 7,420 Filipino Korean War soldiers, also known as Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) are still alive at this present day. To show gratitude to the PEFTOK soldiers who helped the Republic of Korea, the Korean Embassy also gave out scholarships to the descendants of the Korean War veterans during the event.
Korean Ambassador Lauds Hyundai for Advancing Technology and Korea-PH Partnership
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea relations, the “Feel Korea 2019: Bucheon City, Korea Business and Product Exhibition” was held in SMX Convention Center in SM Aura, Taguig City from July 11 to 13. The exhibition was
hosted by the Bucheon City and co-organized by the Bucheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Overseas Korean Trade Association (OKTA) in the Philippines, Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines.
On June 14, 2019, the Philippine Air Force held the acceptance and turnover of the FA-50PH Flight Simulator and Facility at 5th Fighter Wing, Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga. The FA-50PH Flight Simulator and Facility is part of the Horizon I of the AFP Modernization Project contracted with Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI). Present at the turnover ceremony are guest of Honor Delfin Lorenzana of Department of
National Defense and Ambassador HAN Dong-man. The FA-50PH Flight Simulator is a ground-based simulation training system that can help improve the operational capability of real aircraft through systematic flight training and tactical mission training programs. It also provides the appropriate training environment for pilots by simulating scenarios similar to actual flight operations. Article Source: https://www.paf.mil.ph
Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the Philippines, was lauded by Ambassador HAN Dong-man, for its role in promoting cultural and economic ties between Koreans and Filipino. “Korea ranks as the 4th largest trading partner of the Philippines, following the US, China, and Japan. Hyundai has contributed a lot to this, as Hyundai now accounts for more than 8% market share in
the Philippines,” said Ambassador HAN. Ambassador Han also cited Hyundai Dream Centre-Philippines (HDCP) as an embodiment of the strong partnership between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. HDCP, is a training and education hub established last year to teach underprivileged youth on becoming expert automotive technicians. Article Source: https://www.hyundai.ph
AMBASSADOR’S ACTIVITIES
Philippine Air Force Inducts FA-50PH Flight Simulator from Korea
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On April 24, 2019, Ambassador HAN Dong-man gave a lecture at the Far Eastern university in Manila about security environment in the Korean peninsula and KoreaPhilippines relations.
EMBASSY ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcement on the Apostille/ Consular Legalization
Please be informed that on May 14, 2019, the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, which abolishes the requirement of legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) entered into force between the Philippines and other State Parties including the Republic of Korea.
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Therefore starting 14 May 2019, after authentication (Apostillization) by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine public documents no longer have to be authenticated by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines in order to be accepted in Korea.