SEOUL, 8 March 2016 - Seoul has recently become one of the top overseas destinations for Filipinos, but among its many tourist sights, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, headed by Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez, has become a regular stop in the itinerary of Filipino college students.

The most recent group, comprising 68 students and faculty of the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management from the De La Salle University in Dasmarinas, visited the Embassy located on one of Seoul's trendiest roads, Kyungridan, on 8 March 2016 as part of its three-day cultural and historical and immersion program tour of the Korean capital. Following a 10-minute video on the history of Philippine-Korean relations, Ambassador Hernandez gave a 30-minute lecture on the Philippines' diplomatic mission in Korea, including organizational structure, functions and responsibilities in implementing the country's foreign policy thrusts and an overview of bilateral ties, particularly bilateral defense cooperation. Ambassador Hernandez also answered questions on PHL-ROK defense and economic cooperation, national security issues, as well as education opportunities for Filipino students in Korea. There were also visits from 42 students of the same college, 63 senior students from the School of International Studies of San Beda College Alabang as well as 60 junior and senior ICT students and six faculty members from San Beda College on 28 and 29 February 2016. Roderico Atienza, Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General, and Ms. Ella Karina R. Mitra, Third Secretary and Vice Consul received the delegations. Last year, 38 students and faculty from Ateneo de Davao University visited on the 28th of October 2015, 125 students and professors visited from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on the 23rd of November 2015, and 83 UST students and professors visited on the 3rd December 2015. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, tourist arrivals from the Philippines are experiencing an upswing, with 31,098 visitors arriving from the Philippines in one month alone in January 2016, reflecting a 25.8 percent increase from the 24,716 arrivals in the same period in 2015.