By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
MANILA – The Korean Embassy in Manila thanked the Philippine government for its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of foreign tourists, including South Koreans in the country.
In a luncheon meeting with the press on Tuesday, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa conveyed that Korea was a “bit concerned” about the safety of Korean tourists, citing incidents involving Korean nationals in the country.
“We are thankful (with regard to) the swift and full cooperation from the Philippine authorities in ensuring safety and security of foreigners, including Koreans, are top priority. We do hope that that will send good message,” he said.
Korea, he said, is proud to see that South Koreans are the number one foreign visitors of the Philippines and hoped that this trend would continue.
READ: DOT: PH gov’t prioritizing safety of S. Korean tourists
On April 20, a Korean national was shot dead near a bank at the so-called Korean Town in Angeles City. The shooting incident was linked to robbery.
Lee said he had traveled to Pampanga together with the National Bureau of Investigation following the incident to “alleviate the concerns on the safety situation on the ground.”
“That sent a very strong signal and that was very warmly received by the Korean community. So, in that regard, I again appreciate the full cooperation from the Philippines,” he said.
Weeks after the incident, the Philippines and South Korea also agreed to further strengthen coordination and security measures to ensure the safety of Korean nationals visiting and residing in the country.
Korea is the Philippines’ top source market for international visitors, accounting for 1,574,152 in arrivals, and contributing around USD2.3 billion to the national economy in 2024. (PNA)
