EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES


SEOUL REPUBLIC OF KOREA

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NOTIFICATION WAIVER PROGRAM FOR UNDOCUMENTED FOREIGNERS


All Filipinos are informed that the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), in consultation with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), has implemented the Notification Waiver Program for Undocumented Foreigners since March 2013. Since March 2013, 585 undocumented foreigners have benefited from this program.

The program aims to allow undocumented foreigners to report crimes without fear of deportation. It also prevents offenses in which a victim's lack of legal status is exploited.

Under the Notification Waiver Program for Undocumented Foreigners, the police authorities will be exempt from its legal obligation to report undocumented foreigners who have fallen victim to major crimes including bodily injury, intimidation, and fraud.

KNPA has stressed that all foreign nationals, regardless of status, may receive police assistance without prejudice. They will also continue to strongly punish acts of violence, sex crime, and fraud targeting foreigners and spare no efforts to protect human rights of foreigners in South Korea.

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NOTIFICATION WAIVER PROGRAM PARA SA MGA
DAYUHANG UNDOCUMENTED

Nais po naming ipabatid sa ating mga kababayang Filipino na muling pinagbibigay alam ng Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), sa kanilang pakikipagtulungan sa Ministry of Justice (MOJ), na patuloy nilang pinapatupad ang Notification Waiver Program para sa mga Dayuhang Undocumented. Simula noong Marso 2013, mahigit na 585 dayuhang may illegal na status na ang natulungan ng nasabing programa.

Ang programang ito ay nakatuon sa mga kaso ng mga illegal na dayuhan sa Seoul na naging biktima ng krimen, ngunit sa pangambang mahuli ng dahil sa kanilang illegal na status ay nag-aalangang mag-report sa kapulisan.

Sa ilalim ng Notification Waiver Program para sa mga Dayuhang Undocumented, ang kapulisan ay hindi pinapahintulutang mag-sumbong laban sa mga illegal na dayuhan na naging biktima ng krimen katulad ng pananakit, pananakot o pandaraya.

Mariing ipinapaalam ng KNPA na ang sinumang foreigner na maging biktima ng isang krimen ay bibigyan ng tulong ng kapulisan kahit ano pa man ang kanilang immigration status dito sa Korea. Patuloy din nilang uusigin ang sino mang nagkasala sa mga dayuhang naririto sa Korea at itaguyod ang karapatang pangtao ng mga ito.

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Other News


January 29, 2026
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL JOINS 44TH INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY

23 January 2026, Seoul–Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez joined Korea Customs Service (KCS) Commissioner Myeong-ku Lee, senior officials, and members of the diplomatic corps in celebrating the 44th International Customs Day on 23 January 2026 at Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam. The event underscored the vital role of customs in securing and facilitating global trade—a field of growing cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. In his address, Commissioner Lee highlighted that modern customs go beyond processing goods, serving as a critical function for trade facilitation, supply chain security, and public safety. He also noted KCS’s use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve efficiency, inspections, and risk response. These initiatives align with the Philippines’ customs reform efforts and ongoing collaboration with the KCS, including information exchange, capacity-building, and technical cooperation to strengthen enforcement, risk management, and trade facilitation. END

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January 28, 2026
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL EXPLORES COLLABORATION WITH EAAFP ON MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION

25 January 2026, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, H.E. Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez and the Embassy’s Political and Economic Section met with Ms. Jennifer George, Chief Executive of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Secretariat on 21 January 2026. Ms. George was accompanied by Ms. Jisun Lee, Foundation Officer and Ms. Kyle Esperanza Zuleta, Program Officer of EAAFP.Ambassador Fernandez highlighted the strong complementarities between the conservation of migratory birds and the promotion of sustainable tourism, noting that many key bird migration areas in the Philippines overlap with the country’s prime tourism destinations. Advancing regional cooperation for migratory bird protection would likewise help raise awareness of the Philippines’ wetlands and coastal ecosystems. The Ambassador further emphasized the importance of integrating tourism and cultural dimensions into this undertaking, citing Philippine dances inspired by bird movements as expressions of the country’s deep cultural connection to nature.Ms. George conveyed that the EAAFP is an active partnership of 22 countries and 18 partners working together to conserve migratory waterbirds, their habitat and the livelihoods of people who depend on them.  Building on the success of the EAAFP’s 12th Meeting of Partners (MOP12) in Cebu City, Philippines from 14 to 18 November 2025, EAAFP and Embassy officials had a productive discussion on further exploring areas of collaboration on conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitat.  The Philippines remains an important flyway for migratory birds with seven (7) designated Flyway Site Networks in the country, including the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Naujan Lake National Park, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area, Lake Mainit, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary and Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve. END

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January 28, 2026
PHILIPPINES SEEKS EL SALVADOR SUPPORT FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL CANDIDATURE

20 January 2026 – Philippine Ambassador to the ROK Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez paid a courtesy call on H.E. Federico Miguel Guerrero Avendaño, Ambassador of the Republic of El Salvador to the Republic of Korea, reaffirming the warm and friendly relations between the Philippines and El Salvador. 

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