MANILA – The Philippines and South Korea are set to broaden their Strategic Partnership with intensified cooperation in trade, defense, and regional diplomacy, as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed their alliance during a phone conversation on Thursday.
“During their conversation, President Marcos conveyed his warm congratulations and expressed his full support for President Lee’s administration,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Friday.
The two leaders underscored their commitment to bolster collaboration in key sectors — trade and investment, defense and security, and people-to-people exchanges — building on the upgraded Strategic Partnership forged in October 2024. Marcos expressed appreciation for Seoul’s continued support for Philippine development programs and advocacies.
He also stressed “the need for the global community to sustain support for the country’s maritime interests and promote stability in the region, in line with international law.”
Looking ahead, Marcos said he anticipates meeting Lee at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which South Korea will host later this year. Lee, in turn, voiced support for enhancing ties between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially as the Philippines prepares to chair the bloc in 2026.
Diplomatic relations between Manila and Seoul date back to March 3, 1949, and this year marks their 76th anniversary. In 2024, South Korea ranked as the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner, fifth largest export destination, and fourth biggest import source, with bilateral trade totaling USD13.2 billion.
Tourism remains a vibrant link, with South Korea emerging as the country’s top source of foreign visitors last year, accounting for 26.37 percent of total arrivals./PN
