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DFA STATEMENT ON THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA) BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA


MANILA 03 January 2025 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) adds its voice in welcoming the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on 31 December 2024.

The implementation of this landmark agreement marks another milestone in Philippines-ROK relations, which have been elevated to a 'Strategic Partnership' since October 2024.

The DFA looks forward to seeing the enduring collaboration between the Philippine and ROK Governments towards forging stronger economic ties, with the FTA as a significant instrument. END

Other News


September 16, 2025
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN KOREA WELCOMES NEW AMBASSADOR

Seoul, Republic of Korea - The Philippine Embassy in Korea welcomed its new Ambassador, Her Excellency Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, Chief of Mission Class I, who arrived in Seoul on 15 September 2025 to formally assume her post as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Korea. She was accompanied by her spouse, the Honorable Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III, Director General of the Foreign Service Institute. 

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September 08, 2025
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY WELCOMES KDIS-DAP INTERNATIONAL SHUTTLE COURSE ON DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION DELEGATES

04 September 2025, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, led by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Edwin Gil Q. Mendoza, welcomed Former Senator Francis Tolentino, local chief executives and national government officials participating in the International Shuttle Course (ISC) on Digital Transformation in the Public Sector program of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management (KDIS) on 02 September 2025. During their visit, the delegation were given a brief overview by Embassy officials of the relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.  In his remarks, CDA a.i. Mendoza acknowledged the important role of local government units in strengthening engagement with other countries. “Diplomacy begins where our people live, in our towns, cities and provinces. It begins with our local government officials who build the trust and confidence of citizens every single day. In several cases, domestic policy informs foreign policy,” he said. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario presented an overview of PH-ROK relations covering key aspects of bilateral relations and shared ROK’s best practices in digital transformation that may be applied by local government units in the Philippines. Former Senator Tolentino, Mission Leader of DAP-ISC, reaffirmed the outstanding relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. During his term as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Tolentino provided instrumental support for the bilateral free trade agreement and defense procurement projects between both nations. As the proponent of the DAP Adaptive Governance and Innovation for Local Executives (AGILE) Program, the former Senator encouraged the delegates to continue working for a better and connected Philippines. Professor Hai-young Yun, Assistant Dean of External Relations of KDIS expressed appreciation for the support extended by the Embassy to its programs, stressing the important role the latter plays in helping delegates gain a deeper understanding of the multi-faceted relations between the Philippines and the ROK. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul continues to emphasize the importance of sub-national diplomacy by supporting capacity-building and knowledge-exchange activities such as DAP-ISC.  By focusing on digital transformation and innovation in governance, the DAP-ISC program harnesses ROK leadership in technology for public service delivery and helps local government units translate these lessons into context with strategies that will empower communities and make cities more efficient, responsive and future-ready. END

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September 08, 2025
PHILIPPINES ADVANCES REGIONAL COOPERATION AT APEC ENERGY MINISTERIAL IN BUSAN

Busan, Korea – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul joined the Department of Energy delegation led by Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara at the 15th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting (EMM15) from 27-28 August 2025, where she reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to work with APEC partners in advancing clean energy, modernizing infrastructure, and building resilient systems for a sustainable and inclusive Asia-Pacific future. 

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