ULSAN, 20 June 2014 – The Consular Team of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, led by First Secretary and Consul General Iric C. Arribas, conducted for the first time ever a consular outreach mission in the Metropolitan City of Ulsan, 300 kilometers south of Seoul, for two days beginning Friday, 20 June 2014.

The Embassy regularly goes on consular missions to Busan and other large urban areas in North and South Gyeongsang province, but this is the first to Ulsan, where around 1,200 Filipinos, mostly workers, reside.

Ulsan is home to the world's largest automobile assembly plant operated by the Hyundai Motor Company, the world's largest shipyard operated by Hyundai Heavy Industries and the world's second largest oil refinery, owned by SK Energy.

“As the new Philippine ambassador in Korea, I am committed to the continuation of these consular missions in order to bring the Embassy and its services closer to the Filipinos in Korea and to encourage them to register in preparation for the 2016 national elections,” Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez said in remarks on the occasion.

The mission was successfully conducted with 167 Filipinos served for various consular services ranging from passport renewal, report of births, notarial services, dual citizenship application, NBI clearance, PAG-IBIG services, Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) to issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates.

Filipinos from neighboring port city of Busan and industrial cities of Changwon, Gimhae and Geoje, also availed themselves of the mobile consular outreach services.

Consul General Arribas thanked Fr. Joseph Kim (Jin Su) of the Vicariate of Ulsan, Diocese of Busan for allowing the use of its facilities.

“The Philippine Embassy took the trouble for going all the way to Ulsan and provide services to the Filipinos here,” Fr. Joseph remarked. “I find pleasure in serving the community and I hope, together with your Embassy, we can continue to serve those who need help. I hope to see you again.”

Ms. Hermie Albao, a long-time resident of Ulsan who volunteered to organize the consular outreach mission in Ulsan, was very appreciative of the Embassy’s effort to reach out to them. “We are so glad that the Philippine Embassy decided to come to Ulsan after almost 17 years. We are all very grateful”.

A member of the Embassy’s Overseas Voting Registration team joined the mobile consular outreach for the first time since opening the 17-month registration period in Korea on 7 May 2014. One hundred and fourteen (114) new registrants applied to vote for the 2016 national elections.