Philippines, Republic of Korea Celebrate 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations
MANILA 04 March 2024 - The Philippines and Korea commemorated the 75th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic relations on 03 March 2024.
As we celebrate our diamond jubilee year, the Philippine Embassy in Korea is proud to launch the official logo for the 75th anniversary of Philippines-Republic of Korea diplomatic relations. Created by the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, the design features iconic symbols of both our countries and encapsulates the long-standing and dynamic partnership of our nations.
The Philippines was the fifth country to formally recognize the Republic of Korea as an independent country on 03 March 1949.
A year later the Philippine government started the dispatch of the 7,420 strong Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea or PEFTOK to help in the valiant battle in defense of freedom and democracy during the Korean War. Among the courageous Filipino Korean War Veterans was the late former President Fidel Valdez Ramos.
After the Korean War Armistice, Korea sent Kim Yong-Ki as its first Ambassador to the Philippines on 19 January 1954. In May of the same year, the Philippines established a legation in Korea led by Minister Tomas de Castro, who was appointed as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Philippines in the country. In 1958, the Philippines opened an Embassy in Seoul under Ambassador Eduardo Quintero.
In his letter to Korean President His Excellency Yoon Suk Yeol on the occasion of the 75th year of relations, President Ferdinand R. Marcos,Jr. conveyed that the “partnership of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea has expanded into a multitude of fields.” President Marcos likewise stated that the “upgrade of our relations to a strategic partnership will open new avenues for growth.”
President Yoon also cited the joint efforts to elevate relations to a strategic partnership saying, “this will provide further opportunities to advance the bilateral relations that have developed for the past 75 years, in all areas including trade, people-to-people exchanges, and development cooperation.”
The commemorative year will be marked by various events in the Philippines and Korea highlighting the dynamism of Philippines-Korea relations and our enduring friendship. END
For more information, visit https://www.seoulpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philembassy-seoul.com, or https://www.facebook.com/PHinKorea/.