‘From K-pop to cuisine: Philippines-South Korea ties stronger’

MANILA, Philippines — Seoul and Manila’s friendship is “now stronger than ever,” South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa said, as the two nations marked 75 years of bilateral relations.

At a media luncheon last Friday, Lee discussed Filipinos’ early Christmas festivities as singers Jose Mari Chan and Mariah Carey are “taking over the airwaves as well as social media.”

Lee also greeted President Marcos, who celebrated his 67th birthday.

“Our two countries are closer than ever – from K-pop and K-drama to cosmetics and cuisine – we’ve built strong bonds not just through diplomacy but through shared passion and culture. Soft power, passion and compassion — these are what truly unite us,” Lee said.

The recent Korea World Travel Fiesta celebration provided an opportunity to promote Korea as a must-visit winter destination, Lee noted.

“One of our speakers, Sohn Jie-ae, ambassador for cultural cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that Koreans and Filipinos have a lot in common, especially our love for family and culture,” he said.

“Before the month ends, we will also host the Korean Film Festival,” he added.

Lee mentioned how South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outlined his vision for Korean unification on Korea Liberation Day last month.

“It’s a policy that impacts not only the Korean Peninsula but also the broader Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

On Sept. 20, Lee said the Korea Foundation and Stratbase ADR Institute will co-host a seminar on enhancing Indo-Pacific security and deepening cooperation between Korea and the Philippines.

Last week, Lee led the distribution of cash gifts and scholarship grants to around 40 Filipino veterans of the Korean War and their families.

Seven family members of fallen Filipino veterans, eight veterans and widows and 25 descendants each received about P42,000, at a sponsorship ceremony at the Philippine-Korea Friendship Center in Taguig over the weekend.

Forty scholarship recipients also received around P21,000 each while three families were granted about P1.1 million.

With support from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Aerospace Industries and non-profit Good Day International, beneficiaries also had lunch with officials of the Korean embassy in Manila, Department of National Defense, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and Veterans Federation of the Philippines.

The Korean War Bereaved Families Association, in collaboration with the PEFTOK Veterans Association, organized the sponsorship ceremony.