Embassy row rising at the Fort

MANILA, Philippines – After Singapore and the United Kingdom, South Korea becomes the third country to transfer its diplomatic mission to the new embassy row that is rising at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Visiting South Korean Foreign and Trade Minister Yu Myung-hwan led the groundbreaking and capsule-laying ceremonies yesterday for the chancery of the Republic of South Korea at its new site in McKinley Hill.

Yu and South Korean Ambassador Hong Jong-ki said the construction of the new chancery symbolizes the importance of bilateral relations between Manila and Seoul.

The South Korean diplomatic mission will rise on McKinley Hill, envisioned to be an international community that will also host international schools, offices for global companies, high-end residential villas and condominiums and world-class amenities.

“We have a growing number of Korean communities in the Philippines. It is very opportune and right time to build a new chancery. This symbolizes the importance of our relationship,” Yu said.

Yu also took the opportunity to thank the Philippine government for its support during the Korean War in the fight against communism.

“And we will never forget that. The Philippines is our good ally,” he said.

According to Yu, the embassy will serve the growing number of their nationals in the country as well as the investments here.

He said around 2,000 South Koreans arrive in the Philippines every day.

Hong, for his part, said security was the primary consideration in selecting the new site of the diplomatic mission.

Although security is not a problem at their former site in Makati City, Hong said their new place in Taguig is much bigger.

On Tuesday, the United Kingdom opened its new chancery on Upper McKinley Road at the McKinley Town Centre of Fort Bonifacio.

The construction of the embassy followed the agreement for the purchase of land in Fort Bonifacio as the site of the new chancery.

British Ambassador Peter Beckingham said the Department of Foreign Affairs approved the purchase of land by the British government for its new embassy.

Beckingham said the 1.2-hectare site was purchased from Megaworld Corp.

He said the purchase of the land underlines the growing British and Philippine relationship.

He said the British government’s decision to invest several million pounds for a new embassy building is a strong signal of its commitment to developing an even closer relationship with the Philippines.

Last April, Singapore opened its new embassy along Rizal Drive at the Bonifacio Global City.