KOREA BULLETIN
The official publication of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea
November 2013
FROM THE AMBASSADOR’S DESK H.E. LEE HYUK
The state visit of His Excellency Benigno C. Aquino III to Korea on October 17-18, 2013 highlighted the robust relationship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. The summit meeting between Her Excellency President PARK Geun-Hye and the Philippine president His Excellency Benigno Aquino III, at the Blue House was intended to further bilateral relations between the two nations. This objective was easily achieved, with the Korean and Philippine governments signing three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in defense and sports cooperation, including a loan assistance of US$80.4million to ease the adverse effects of flooding in the province of Pampanga. Minister KIM Kwan Jin and Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin signed the MOU where the Ministry of National Defense of Korea and the Philippine’s Department of National Defense will maintain “friendly military ties” founded on “equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.” As part of this cooperation, the Philippines will be purchasing twelve (12) Korean fighter jets to beef up its air defense capability. President Aquino’s state visit pushed through despite a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that devastated the provinces of Bohol and Cebu on October 15th. World leaders immediately expressed their sympathies and support, including President PARK. The Korean government and people pledged a US$500,000 humanitarian assistance for the victims of the earthquake, as well as the conflict in Zamboanga. During his visit, President Aquino also had time to confer the Lakandula Award on Jasmine Bacurnay-LEE, a Filipina who was naturalized as a Korean citizen, and the first immigrant to be elected to Korea’s parliament. She represents the immigrant sector, especially foreign women married to Koreans. The Lakandula Award is one of the highest honors to be given to Filipino citizens who have done well, even those who have chosen to reside in other countries. Successive typhoons and the recent earthquake have placed the Philippines in a very fragile state, but these natural phenomena should not cast a cloud on the rosy economic climate that the country has been experiencing. The Republic of Korea is privileged to be a part of this development, as it inaugurated the Cavite Collaboration Center for Public Health on Septem-
ber 9. The construction of the center is meant to encourage and sustain collaboration among stakeholders and develop the capacity of human resources in health. This project will lead to a well-coordinated public health system, which will result in better health service delivery that will benefit some 3 million Caviteños. Earlier, on September 2, Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water) and the Government of the Philippines signed the Certificate of Effectivity, which finally concluded the purchase of the 218-MW Angat Hydro-Electric Power Plant. The project is very important because Angat Dam is the main source of water for Metro Manila. The dam and the power plant are utilized for power generation, irrigation, water supply and flood control. As a testament to the rapid growth of the Philippines’ GDP, Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) opened its latest branch last September 4 at the Clark Freeport Zone, where some one hundred Korean companies are based. Expectedly, cultural and people-to-people relations continued to flourish. The Philippines, with its many attractions and very friendly people drew in about one million Korean visitors. And while many Koreans come to the Philippines to learn English, a number of Filipinos also strive to learn Korean, either for their own personal development or for employment purposes. The 9th Employment Permit System–Test of Proficiency in Korean, or EPS-TOPIK was held on August 11 and involved nearly 16,000 Filipinos aspiring to work in Korea. The Korean Cultural Center has been greatly instrumental in the growing popularity of the Korean language, as well as other facets of Korean culture. It celebrated its second year anniversary after a string of activities that served to deepen the existing bonds of amity and friendship between Koreans and Filipinos. The Korean Alphabet Jewelry Exhibit was launched on August 16, then the Hallyu Forum was held on September 17, followed by the Korean Film Festival, that kicked off on September 18. The KCC also promotes Korean cuisine and other art forms by offering lessons to the public. Judging from the positive response of the Filipino public to these Korean activities, I see in the future a stronger, more meaningful relationship between the Philippines and Korea.
CONTENTS KOR, PHL hold bilateral summit; ink three deals
Korea celebrates National Day Korea donates US$ 500,000 to quake victims and Zamboanga
KOREA BULLETIN
Korea Exchange Bank opens Clark branch
Hangeul exhibit to close Nov 30
Cavite Collaboration Hallyu Forum, anCenter for Public Health nual Korean Film inaugurated Festival held
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