Pinoys thanked for warm welcome to Koreans

CEBU, Philippines - Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Hyuk yesterday thanked Filipinos for embracing the different facets Korean culture like food, television shows and even the latest dance craze “Gangnam Style” by South Korean pop artist Psy.

The ambassador was in Cebu for a press conference yesterday at the Cebu Country Club.

Koreans remain on the top spot in terms of tourist arrivals with over one million Koreans in the country, 30,000 of which are residents of Cebu mostly studying the English language.

“Sometimes, I am ashamed of Koreans doing bad things here.  It is my duty to protect and prevent them from doing bad things,” he said.

He added that Koreans love the Philippines’ breathtaking sceneries and Filipino hospitality.

Lee also said he is set to meet Department of Health secretary Enrique Ona in order for the Philippine government to lift the ban on the six brands of Korean instant noodles.

“I am very worried on the ban of the noodles importation in the Philippines. It’s quite worrisome. It affected the image of Korean noodles,” Lee said.

The ambassador explained that the Korea’s Food and Drug Administration already certified that the six noodle brands contained no chemicals that are harmful to the human body.

He added that Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration also conducted a test and found no harmful chemicals in the banned noodles.

It can be recalled that last Oct. 29, the country’s Food and Drug Administration identified six Korean noodles brands as containing the potentially cancer-causing chemical.

These were three variations of Nongshim Neoguri, Nongshim Big Bowl Noodle Shrimp, Nongshim Saengsaeng Udon Bowl Noodle and Nongship Saengsaeng Udon.

“I hope the Filipino consumers no longer worry about this. Absolutely no problem,” he said.

Augusto Go, Honorary consul-general to the Republic of Korea jokingly said that he will bring Psy in Cebu for the Cebuanos to dance the latest dance craze.

Go, who is also the president of the University of Cebu, added that the ambassador visited Cebu to bring Korea closer to the Cebuanos.  –(FREEMAN)