SEOUL, 19 August 2026 — Deputy Speaker and House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairperson Maria Rachel J. Arenas concluded an Official Visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) from 12 to 19 August 2026, at the invitation of the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, further strengthening high-level parliamentary engagement, local government, economic, and people-to-people cooperation under the Philippines–ROK Strategic Partnership.

During her call on ROK National Assembly Deputy Speaker Park Duk-hyum and engagement with National Assembly Member Kim Sung-won, Chair of the ROK–Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group, Deputy Speaker Arenas underscored the important role of legislatures in sustaining the Strategic Partnership and advancing cooperation that delivers tangible benefits for both countries. She also invited ROK parliamentary participation in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) engagements to be hosted by the Philippines during its 2026 ASEAN Chairship. 

Deputy Speaker Arenas also led the turnover of Philippine publications to the ROK National Assembly Library, including authoritative works on Philippine legislative history and the West Philippine Sea. The initiative expands access among Korean legislators, officials, and researchers to Philippine perspectives on governance, maritime law, and national interests, while strengthening the intellectual and parliamentary dimensions of bilateral relations.

In Sacheon, the Deputy Speaker visited Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), where discussions focused on defense and aerospace cooperation, technology and skills development, maintenance capabilities, and opportunities for Philippine engineers, technicians, and industries to participate in higher-value aerospace activities.

In Busan, Deputy Speaker Arenas met Busan Metropolitan Council Chairperson Kang Moo-gil and Council members to discuss stronger local-government, educational, economic, and people-to-people linkages. The Deputy Speaker encouraged continued support for the welfare and integration of Filipinos in the region, including workers, marriage migrants, and multicultural families, as well as expanded education, skills development, and employment opportunities in the southern region’s growing maritime, logistics, aviation, and other industries. These engagements support Philippine efforts to protect and advance the interests of the almost 70,000 Filipinos living and working in the Republic of Korea, many of whom are within the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in Busan.

The Deputy Speaker likewise visited the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea, where she paid tribute to the 7,420 members of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) who served during the Korean War. The visit reaffirmed the enduring historical foundations of Philippines–ROK relations and opened opportunities for further cooperation in preserving the PEFTOK legacy and strengthening veterans affairs cooperation.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, led by Ambassador Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, provided substantive and logistical support throughout the Official Visit, with the Philippine Consulate General in Busan, led by Consul General Leah Victoria T. Carada, supporting the delegation during the southern ROK leg of the program.  END