Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines

When people think of the Philippines, many immediately picture beautiful resort destinations such as Cebu, Boracay, and Bohol. But the Philippines is more than just a scenic vacation spot—it is a close and long-standing friend, and a cherished partner.

The Philippines, with a land area 1.3 times that of the Korean Peninsula, over 7,000 islands, and a vibrant population of around 110 million, is geographically the closest Southeast Asian country to Korea. Historical records—such as Joseon-era fisherman Moon Soon-deuk drifting ashore and staying for nine months in Luzon in the early 19th century, Father Kim Dae-geon studying theology in Manila and Bulacan in 1837, and Dosan Ahn Chang-ho’s visit in 1929 to seek a new base for the independence movement alongside 50 resident Koreans—illustrate the long and deep-rooted ties between Korea and the Philippines.

Moreover, on March 3, 1949, the Philippines became the fifth country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea. It was also the first Asian nation—and the one that deployed the largest number of troops, 7,420 soldiers—to fight alongside Korea during the Korean War to defend freedom and democracy.

Building on this historical bond, Korea and the Philippines have walked a long path of friendship, steadily broadening the horizons of cooperation.

In 2024, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a “strategic partnership” and economic cooperation has since been further solidified following the entry into force of the Korea-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in December 2024.

Above all, President Lee Jae Myung’s State Visit to the Philippines in March 2026 marked a historic milestone that elevated bilateral relations to a new level. It was the culmination of close communication and high-level exchanges between the leaders since the launch of Korea’s new government, and served as an important opportunity to accelerate substantive cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure, energy, and defense industry.

Going forward, Korea and the Philippines will further give substance to their Strategic Partnership, building on these achievements. In addition, with the Philippines’ assumption of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, the two countries will deepen their partnership for shared regional prosperity and work in close coordination toward sustainable growth.

Thanks to shared cultural values—such as strong family ties, the use of honorific language, and a respect for tradition paired with openness to foreign influence—the Korean Wave (Hallyu), which began with K-pop and K-dramas, has expanded into K-beauty and K-food, all warmly embraced by the Filipino public. Additionally, with one in four foreign tourists in the Philippines being Korean, vibrant people-to-people exchanges are laying a solid foundation for the advancement of bilateral ties.

Since its establishment as a Legation in Manila in 1954, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines has served as a guiding force in advancing bilateral relations. Moving forward, under the banner of pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interest, the Embassy will do its utmost to promote a future-oriented and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. In particular, amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainties—such as U.S.-China strategic rivalry and rising protectionism and unilateralism—we will actively pursue Korea’s “K-Initiatives” to further strengthen substantial cooperation with the Philippines, one of our key regional partners.

We appreciate your continued interest and support for the Philippines and our Embassy.

Maraming salamat po!