PNoy to visit Korea

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III will visit the Republic of Korea on Oct. 17-18 to meet Korean President Park Geun-hye, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Friday.

The state visit between the two heads of state will include discussions on bilateral issues including political, defense, economic and development cooperation, and regional and international challenges, DFA said.

The state agency added that Aquino will also visit the Korean business community to promote trade and investment in the Philippines and interact with the Filipino community in the capital Seoul.

"The Philippines and Republic of Korea established relations on March 3, 1949. During the Korean War in 1950, the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea joined the UN-led coalition in defending the freedom of the Korean people. Until today, both countries recognize this as the bedrock of Philippine-Korean relations," DFA said.

Korea is one the country's biggest trade partners and the top source of tourists, breaching the 1-million mark in 2012, about a quarter of the total tourist arrivals in the country last year. (with a report from Dennis Carcamo)