President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea, accompanied by other delegates, participated in a bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. today, September 7, at Malacañang Palace.
"On behalf of the Filipino people, I thank President Yoon Suk Yeol for accepting my invitation to come and visit with us in the Philippines as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our two country's diplomatic relation," President Marcos said in his message.
Marcos emphasized that the ties between the two nations were strengthened not only by shared values but also by the sacrifices of thousands of Filipinos who provided aid to South Korea—the first Asian country to do so—when the Korean War broke out in 1950.
Additionally, both countries have been actively coordinating in defense and security, maritime cooperation, trade, and people-to-people exchanges.
"From here, there is nowhere else to go but up," said Marcos.
President Marcos stated that now is the opportune moment to elevate the relationship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea to a strategic partnership.
"We must work together to achieve prosperity for our people and to promote a rules-based order governed by international laws including the 1982 UNCLOS and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award," said Marcos.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed his gratitude to Marcos for the warm welcome he and his delegation received upon their arrival in the Philippines.
“Mr. President, I deeply thank you and the people of the Philippines for warmly welcoming me and my delegation and even more privileged to visit the Philippines in this momentous year marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations,” said President Yoon.
Yoon noted that in 1949, the Philippines became the first nation in Southeast Asia to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea.
During the Korean War, the Philippines sent the largest contingent of troops to Korea among Asian nations.
Furthermore, the President of South Korea expressed hopes that his state visit will serve as an opportunity not only to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries but also to broaden the partnership to include future-oriented sectors such as security, digital technology, and energy.
