KOREA BULLETIN The official publication of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea
FROM
THE
APRIL 2016
AMBASSADOR‘S
DESK
KIM Jae-shin, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary
Warm greetings to all! As the summer season began in this tropical nation, the Korean Cultural Center, under the able stewardship of Counsellor OH Choong-Suk, embarked on a Beautiful Journey in the World Art Exhibit. Its opening on March 3 was highlighted by the presence of Connie Quirino, a granddaughter of former President Elpidio Quirino. Along with 2 other Filipino artists, she joined 19 Korean artists living in the Philippines, to share their works that express the beauty and cultures of both countries. President Quirino is dear to many Koreans because he was the Philippine leader during the Korean War. He resolved to send Filipino soldiers – more than 7,000 young men – to Korea, to defend
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its sovereignty and freedom against the invaders from the north. Since that time, the Philippines and Korea have shared a wonderful friendship that has gone beyond diplomatic and bilateral relations to include people-to-people and cultural exchanges The Beautiful Journey in the World Art Exhibit, which features 42 pieces of art, is just an example of such cultural collaboration. The exhibit will run until May 27. Five days after the opening of the KCC exhibit, on March 8, I attended the inauguration ceremony for the establishment of the Phase II Project for Upgrading and Enhancement of Training Programs of the Regional Training Center in Davao City. Moving to the second stage was a confirma-
tion of the success of the project, which was one of the projects of the Korea International Cooperation Agency, in cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA. It was an auspicious day that overlapped with the Korea Cultural Festival, and the 11th year anniversary of the Korea-Philippines Vocational Training Center Davao, which is one of KOICA’s most successful and self-sustaining projects in the Philippines today. Through projects like these, Korea has become a part of the cultural development thrust of Davao city, in the process, further strengthening friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Korea. With a new Philippine President to be elected this
Korea increases labor quota for Filipino Workers
Trip to Korea awaits Korean Speech Contest Winner
Booyoung Group of Korea Donates digital pianos, blackboards to DEPED TESDA and Ambassador KIM inaugurates KOICA Phase 2 project in Davao
KOICA funds P378.4-M for Panay farmers
year, it is reassuring that our countries have a strong historical bond that will endure in spite of changes in the leadership of the country. For sure, 2016 will prove to be a vibrant year because of elections in Korea and the Philippines. The 20th legislative elections will be held in Korea on April 13 to elect members of the National Assembly. Korean nationals in the Philippines were able to cast their votes from March 30 to April 4. The Philippines will also have its general elections on May 9. I am confident that the Philippines and Korea, with their enduring relationship, will be able to adapt to whatever the future has to offer, and even flourish under new leadership.
“The Beautiful Journey in the World” art exhibit opens
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Korean Food Festival held at Sofitel Manila
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TESDA and Ambassador KIM inaugurates KOICA Phase 2 project in Davao
TESDA Secretary Irene Isaac and Ambassador KIM Jae-Shin during the inauguration of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Phase II Project in Davao City.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) inaugurated the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Phase II Project center at Buhisan Tibungco, Davao City on March 8. Korean Ambassador KIM
Jae- Shin and TESDA Director General Secretary Irene Isaac lead the ceremony with other representatives from different national government agencies, TESDA operating units and industry partners witnessing the said event.
Korea increases labor quota for Filipino Workers Filipino workers will have more chance of finding employment overseas as Korea’s manufacturing sector increased its quota under the Employment Permit System (EPS) this year. According to the Philippine’s Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, she received a letter from the Foreign Workforce Division Director of Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor CHOI Junha, stating that Korea has set the ceiling for the Philippines under the EPS at 6,800 and the number of jobseekers permitted to be on the roster at 8,100 – 2,200 higher than last year’s 4,600 quota. Baldoz said the increase of quota reflects the consistent good EPS performance of the Philippines for the past four years, leading to creation of more employment opportuni-
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ties for Filipinos in Korea’s manufacturing sector. In his letter, Director CHOI stated that for 2016, Korean government’s overall foreign workers quota for the five permitted industry sectors, including manufacturing, is set at 58,000. 46,000 from which are allocated to newcomers, while reserving 12,000 for re-entering workers. In order to sustain a consistent and sustainable implementation of the EPS program, Baldoz ordered the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to fast track the renewal of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) which will expire on 8 April and to set in motion several measures to reduce the number of overstaying Filipino EPS workers in Korea. Among these measures are the establishment of Pre-
The KOICA Phase II project consists of Incubation Center for Food Processing and Agricultural Machinery Fabrication and a Multi-purpose hall. Apart from that are classrooms for the Korean Language and Culture training. Trainings from Korea Polytechnics and in Human Resource Development Institute (HRDI) Manila to upgrade the skills and technical competence of trainers and staff of the Center are provided as part of the said the project. The first phase of the project center or the Phase I facility deal was sealed by an Agreement on Seoul, Korea on June 2, 2003. It was inaugurated on 2005 in the same area. Phase I is a five-million USD grant from the Korean Government to the Philippines. Egmedio O. Valdez Jr., the Center Chief of the project, envisions the center to be “the leading agricultural mechanization institute in the Philippines and the ASEAN” through its mission in “de-
veloping internationally competitive workers in agricultural mechanization”. In its effort to maintain quality and effective capability building, the Center continues to cater to training needs of the community and industries while at the same time, increasing the competencies of its trainers and staff. Since its opening, the center has produced a total of 3,000 vocation trainees and 2,000 of those later obtained employment in various companies, thereby contributing to the economic development of the Philippines. Isaac further challenged the Center to level up the silver accreditation it has obtained at the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) into gold. She has also hoped that the Center will be in the forefront in agricultural modernization program as key to the Philippine Qualification Framework (PQF) implementation. (TESDA)
liminary Language and Culture Training for EPS workers which will be handled by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); strengthening of the POEA’s information campaign during the EPS-Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), PEOS, and PDOS on expenses to be incurred once the labor contract is sent to Korea; and exploring the possibility of filing visa applications of EPS workers electronically to facilitate efficient and faster issuance of working visas. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Korea has also been exerting efforts in campaigning for EPS workers’ return to the Philippines by conducting post-orientation briefings, labor education sessions, and reintegration preparedness seminars for EPS workers, thereby preventing them from overstaying. Baldoz said she had informed Korean Ambassador KIM Jae-Shin of her directive
when the two officials met last February 4. She also expressed her gratitude to Korea for its continued trust to the country, especially in providing job opportunities for Filipinos. “We are pleased that for the fifth time, our EPS agreement with South Korea will again be renewed, along with increased opportunities for employment of Filipinos in Korean’s manufacturing sector,” Baldoz said. Philippines’ Labor Attaché to Korea, Felicitas Bay, has reported to Secretary Baldoz that the of Korea’s Ministry of Employment will implement, starting this year, monitoring protocols based on overall outcomes of their set criterion, which includes each of sending countries’ competency and transparency level in the selection and sending process, capacity to conduct return support programs, establishment and application of measures to discourage workers from overstaying thus, encourage their voluntary return. (TESDA)
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Booyoung Group of Korea Donates digital pianos, blackboards to DEPED
As part of their efforts to aid domestic and international education sectors, Korean construction and property company Booyoung Group donated 5,000 digital pianos and 50,000 to Department of Education (DEPED). The donation ceremony was held on January 29 at AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Quezon City. Booyoung Group Chairman LEE Joong Keun, DEPED Secretary Armin Luistro, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines KIM Jae-Shin and dignitary guests from both countries participated in the ceremony together with 500 school children and parents. The famous Korean Graduation Song translated into Tagalog and Korean folk songs “Arirang” and “Spring in the Hometown” are stored in the digital pianos together with the Philippine National Anthem and other Philippine folk songs. It is hoped that this project will contribute to the mutual understanding and cultural exchange between the two coun-
tries. Chairman LEE expressed his hopes that this event “will serve to strengthen amity and friendship between two countries.” He said that Koreans are deeply thankful to the Philippines for lending their troops during the Korean War. Chairman LEE, with a firm belief that education is the best investment for the better future, has been donating in the educational sector domestically and globally. He has donated 60,000 digital pianos and 600,000 blackboards in 14 South East countries and is trying to expand donation activities to African countries. Aside from this, LEE has awarded scholarship to the foreign students from Asia-Pacific and African countries. 15 Filipino students studying in Korea are receiving benefits every 6 months. LEE is also the author of a Korean War history book “Korean War 1129 days.” The representatives of the Korean War veterans also participated in the donation ceremony.
NICE Investors Service upgrades PH’s credit rating
Korean rating agency NICE Investors Service upgraded the Philippines’ credit rating from the minimum investment grade of “BBB-” to “BBB.” The move has tightly secured the Philippines’ place within the investment-grade territory. NICE said the upgrade was
anchored on “improved government transparency as well as enhanced environment backed by expanded infrastructure and social overhead capitals in the form of public-private partnerships.” The Philippines’ new credit rating assigned a “stable” out-
KOICA funds P378.4-M for Panay farmers
THE KOREAN International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently launched the Panay Island Upland-Sustainable Rural Development Project (PIU-SRDP) phase 1. Country Director of KOICA Philippines SONG Minhyun said PIU-SRDP will have three phases namely, improvement of living environment for phase 1; development of income generation for phase 2; and promotion of self-confidence for phase 3. The 378.4-Million Peso KOICA funded project is intended for the upland farmers of Panay Island and is set to benefit 15 barangays to the province. It will be implemented in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo beginning this year until 2019 according DA Regional 6 Executive Director Roy M. Abaya. “At this initial stage, we aim to encourage upland villagers
to participate in the implementation of small scale projects that will help improve their living environment and condition. But in order for this to be effective and sustainable, utmost cooperation and goodwill from all project partners is required,” said KOICA Legal Affairs Advisor YANG Jae Taek. Manuel O. Olanday, Regional Technical Director for Operations and PIU-SRDP program management unit chairman, said the project aims to benefit 123 households, which will include three components. The first one will focus on the improvement of households’ condition through the construction of toilets, concreting of floors, and repair of kitchen and walls. The component 2 will be the improvement of barangay facilities and the last component will hinge on capability building of PIU-SRDP Barangay Development Council Members. (Manila Bulletin)
NICE Investors Servic provides objective and professional rating services and bridges information asymmetry to build more transparent and reliable society.
look, indicating it may stay the same at least over the short term despite challenges posed by external developments. The upgrade came amid rise in infrastructure investments. From 1.8 percent of gross domestic product in 2010, Philippines’ infrastructure budget rises to 5% of GDP this year. “The string of favorable actions from credit rating agencies resonates the process of economic strengthening that the Philippines has undergone over the years. Contributory to this
KOREA BULLETIN
process were sound monetary policy and bank supervision, which have played crucial roles in promoting a stable inflation environment and a strong financial system,” said Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. Central Bank of the Philippines Governor. The Investor Relations Office (IRO) said upgrades in credit ratings have provided concrete benefits for the Philippines economy, including improved business confidence and reduced borrowing cost for the government. (Inquirer/DOF)
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art & culture
Trip to Korea awaits Korean Speech Contest Winner KCC, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Ateneo Initiative for Korean Studies are inviting Filipino Korean language enthusiasts to take part in the 2016 Korean Speech Contest. Participants must compose an original speech that would relate to the main topic of “GROWTH” and is not plagiarized from previous works. Interested applicants may submit their forms from February 25 to March 30, with the announcement of qualified applicants on April 4. Contest is open to all ages with good proficiency in Korean and Filipino citizens. They must not have lived or stayed in Korea for more than one year in the past three years.
In 2015 KCC opened regional competitions to the provinces of Cebu, Davao and Iloilo wherein the champions compete in the final stage in Manila. This year KCC will be holding the 2016 Korean Speech Contest regional competitions on April 23 in the cities of Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Baguio, Pampanga and Manila. Grand Finals will be held on April 30 at Ateneo De Manila University. The Korean Speech Contest aims to promote the Korean language to more Filipinos. Also it is to encourage the learners of Korean language to enhance their skills in the speaking language. Regional grand prize winners will win 5,000 pesos and
The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) recently opened its art exhibition “The Beautiful Journey in the World,” last March 3. The exhibit features the artworks of 19 Korean artists currently residing here in the Philippines. Joining the roster of Korean artists were Filipino artists Connie Quirino, former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino’s granddaughter; Yueh Faye Lai, and Jacqueline Lhuillier Hess. The Beautiful journey in the World art exhibition showcases the artists’ perception of the world based on their expe-
riences and adventures while living abroad. The exhibit displays 42 pieces of art work by artists from the two nations that bring out the profound blend of eastern and western arts. The event was warmed up with a quick chat with artists Seung Joo Kang, Connie Quirino, and Carla Kim, who helped plan and organize the exhibit. According to Kim the sceneries here in the Philippines influenced her recent paintings. While for Kang, her paintings are often inspired by sculptures. Quirino, one of the Filipino guest exhibitors, proudly attrib-
a roundtrip to Manila to compete in the grand finals. The grand winner for the grand finals competition will win a roundtrip to Korea courtesy of
Korean Tourism Organization and a cash prize of 30,000 pesos. Complete guidelines of the contest are available at http:// phil.korean-culture.org/
“The Beautiful Journey in the World” art exhibit opens
Korean Food Festival held at Sofitel Manila
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The Beautiful Journey in the World art exhibit ribbon cutting ceremony. From left, Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša, Jr., Carla Kim, Korean Ambassador KIM Jae Shin, Cory Quirino, Connie Quirino, KANG Seung Joo and KCC Director OH Choong Suk
utes her artistic abilities to her grandfather, the late president Elpidio Quirino. The Artist talk was then followed by an opening ceremony graced by Korean Ambassador KIM Jae Shin, KCC Director OH Choong Suk, Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša, Jr., Car-
la Kim, Cory Quirino, Connie Quirino and KANG Seung Joo. Gayageum and Pansori performances capped off the program. The exhibit runs from March 3 to May 27 at Korean Cultural Center Exhibition Hall. Admission is Free.
KCC and Sofitel Manila recently co-hosted this year’s Korean Food Festival. The Festival was a five-day long culinary celebration with Korean food-related cultural events happening at the hotel. Korean Chef JANG Bo-Ik of Grand Ambassador Seoul Associated with Pullman visited the country to conduct live Korean cooking demonstrations and lessons, which was held at Sofitel Manila. During the food festival’s opening last January 20, Chef
JANG featured renowned Korean dishes to the visitors. An exhibition of the traditional Korean clothing “Hanbok” and photo exhibition of Korean dishes was also displayed for the guests to enjoy. Hanbok wearing experience was also prepared for the guests while enjoying the flavors of Korean food. The food festival aims to further promote the Korean cuisine in the country and that same time to strengthen the ties of Philippines and Korea.
KOREA BULLETIN