27 September 2013 - President Benigno S. Aquino III will undertake a State Visit to the Republic of Korea from October 17 to 18, upon the invitation of Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye. President Aquino and President Park will hold their first summit meeting to discuss bilateral issues, particularly political, defense, economic, and development cooperation, and to exchange views on regional and international challenges, among others.

During the two-day visit, the President will also meet with the Korean business community to promote further trade and investment in the Philippines and interact with the Filipino community in Seoul.

The Philippines and Republic of Korea established relations on 03 March 1949. During the Korean War in 1950, the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) joined the UN-led coalition in defending the freedom of the Korean people. Until today, both countries recognize this as the bedrock of Philippine-Korean relations.

The two countries developed dynamic economic relations. The Republic of Korea is among the Philippines’ leading partners in trade, investments and development cooperation. The Republic of Korea remains the country’s top source of tourists reaching more than a million in 2012 or nearly a quarter of total tourist arrivals to the Philippines. END