SEOUL, 8 August 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez presented on Friday, 8 August 2014 his credentials at Cheong Wa Dae to President Park Geun-hye, thus officially starting his mission as the country’s top diplomat accredited to the Republic of Korea.

Ambassador Hernandez presented his letter of credence signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III accrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Korea as well as the letter of recall of his predecessor in brief ceremonies at the Audience Room of the presidential Blue House.

In the meeting that followed, President Park called the Philippines “a very valued partner”, recognizing that the Philippines “fought by our side in the Korean War”, and was the first Southeast Asian country to recognize Korea in 1949. “I am certain that under your tenure, our long standing friendship will develop even further,” she told Ambassador Hernandez.

President Park likewise cited President Aquino’s visit as a “catalyst for closer relations”, underscoring the closeness of Filipino and Korean people with the deployment of the Araw Unit, a special medical and engineering team, in December 2013 to help in the reconstruction and recovery of areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in central Philippines.

“Relations between our two countries have grown by leaps and bounds since their establishment 65 years ago, and now encompass political, economic, socio-cultural, consular and defense cooperation, among others,” Ambassador Hernandez said to the president.

Following last year’s state visit, President Aquino is due to attend the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit in Busan in December this year, which will “serve to further enhance the exchanges and interactions between our two countries and contribute to more durable ties,” Ambassador Hernandez said.

“The depth and durability of our close bonds – forged in the crucible of war more than 60 years ago – was again made manifest in the immediate and unstinting help Korea extended to our people following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan,” Ambassador Hernandez said, expressing gratitude for the assistance given not only by the Korean government and firms, but also by ordinary Koreans.

He offered sympathy for the victims of the Sewol incident in April but also expressed confidence that “Korea and its people will not only be able to overcome this tragedy but move forward and grow stronger as a nation.”

“Further proof of the almost familial ties linking our peoples together is the large number of Filipino women married to Korean men,” Ambassador Hernandez said, citing the positive contributions Philippine-born Korean National Assembly Rep. Jasmine Lee and other Filipino marriage migrants make not just to the government’s multicultural policy, but to almost all domains of contemporary Korean life.

Ambassador Hernandez also thanked President Park “for the kind hospitality and fair treatment Korea extends to our people who come to Korea for work, study or travel”.

President Park concurred, saying Filipinos participate in the formation of a multicultural society in Korea and “can serve as positive bridges for our people”. She added that she hoped Korean people could help them “live happy lives and fulfil their dreams in Korea”.

She in turn asked for the Philippine government’s help in protecting Korean nationals living in the Philippines. In reply, Ambassador Hernandez gave reassurances of the Philippines’ commitment to ensuring their safety and well-being.

Ambassador Hernandez expressed appreciation for the support extended by the Korean government in the upgrading of Philippine military capabilities in the form of the provision of military equipment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Ambassador Hernandez arrived on 28 May to take up his first posting as ambassador to one of the Philippines’ most important partners, the Republic of Korea. Prior to Korea, Ambassador Hernandez had held various positions in diplomatic and consular missions in China, Canada and Hague, Netherlands.

Before presenting his credentials, Ambassador Hernandez had been able to meet, consistent with protocol, several members of the Korean Cabinet, the National Assembly and other high-ranking government officials but not with the other heads of the three coequal branches of the Korean government.

Following a successful stint as DFA spokesperson, Ambassador Hernandez was appointed to his current post by President Benigno Aquino III on 20 January 2014 and confirmed by the Commission of Appointments on 12 March 2014.

The Philippines established a legation in Seoul headed by Minister Tomas de Castro on 11 May 1954 months after South Korea sent His Excellency Kim Yong-Ki as its first Ambassador to the Philippines on 19 January 1954. The Philippine Embassy was established four years later on 25 July 1958 under H.E. Eduardo T. Quintero.