MANILA, Philippines – The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines announced the official launching of Korean Help Desks in areas with a sizeable population of Korean nationals in the country.
“In recent months, serious crimes such as kidnappings, armed robberies, and fatal attacks targeting Korean nationals have been reported with growing frequency. In response, the Korean Embassy has strongly urged the Philippine government to adopt fundamental and institutional measures to ensure the safety of the Korean community, the Embassy said in a news release.
In cooperation with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the Embassy revealed that a total of eight Korean Help Desks will be established across five key hubs with large Korean populations, specifically Manila, Angeles in Pampanga, Olongapo, Tarlac and Cebu.
According to the Embassy, the help desks will be located within local police stations and will provide swift response and support in cases of crimes or incidents involving Korean nationals.
The initiative is also noteworthy as it represents the first case in the Philippines where a dedicated response unit is being set up inside local police stations specifically for the nationals of one country.
“This initiative serves as a concrete measure to enhance the safety of our community members and visitors, while also marking an important milestone in further strengthening the trust and cooperation between our two countries, which were elevated to a strategic partnership last year,” Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa underscored.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to establish a special task force dedicated to the protection of Koreans.
Against this backdrop, the launch of the Korean Help Desks is regarded as a symbolic demonstration of the Philippine government’s strong commitment to safeguarding the Korean community, the Embassy stated.
Based on data from South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), there are 34,148 Koreans living in the Philippines as of 2023.
Meanwhile, DOT data shows that South Korea is the Philippines’ top source market, delivering a solid 1,574,152 tourist arrivals in 2024 and contributed about USD 2.3 billion to the national economy.
For the first quarter of 2025 though, data showed a decrease in visitor arrivals from South Korea, citing “many factors” for low demand of outbound travel from the country.
Data from January to April revealed that about 468,337 South Korean travellers visited the Philippines, which is 18.03 percent lower compared to that from the same period last year.
The South Korean Embassy in Manila also informed its citizens through its website to take extra precaution when travelling to the Philippines to avoid being targeted by crimes.
Public safety issues, such as the kidnapping of foreigners, may have also contributed to the decline of visitor arrivals from South Korea, reports noted.
