MANILA — Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in South Korea can expect faster and more accessible government services soon as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced the opening of a new Philippine Consulate General in Busan and a Social Security System (SSS) office at the embassy in Seoul.
The move underscores the administration’s broader effort to strengthen government presence abroad and provide Filipinos with convenient access to consular and social protection services.
“My fellow Filipinos, I want to assure you, hindi namin kayo nakakalimutan,” Marcos said during a community gathering in Busan. “We are working hard to make sure that government services reach you, all the way here in Korea or wherever you are.”
Marcos said the new consulate — the country’s second diplomatic post in South Korea after the embassy in Seoul — will open next year to serve thousands of Filipinos in the southern region who currently travel to the capital for passport renewals, civil registry submissions, and document legalizations.
“Sa susunod na taon ay magbubukas na ang Philippine Consulate General dito,” he said. “Soon, you will no longer need to travel all the way to Seoul to renew your passports, to submit civil registry documents, and to legalize your documents for use in the Philippines.”
The President also revealed that an SSS desk will be set up at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to make it easier for overseas workers to access benefits and file claims.
As of June 2025, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul reported more than 70,000 Filipinos registered as residents or workers across South Korea.
Marcos thanked the Filipino community for their continued support, saying their sacrifices and remittances remain vital to the nation’s growth.
“Kahit malayo kayo, ramdam namin sa Pilipinas ang inyong suporta at malasakit,” he said.
He reiterated that his administration’s long-term goal is to make working abroad “an option, not an economic necessity,” as the government pursues sustainable job creation and a stronger domestic economy.
The President met with the Filipino community a day before attending the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, where he is expected to push for deeper cooperation on labor mobility and migrant worker protection./PN
