EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC
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SEOUL REPUBLIC OF KOREA

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PH EMBASSY IN KOREA FIRST TO TRANSMIT OVERSEAS ELECTION RETURNS TO COMELEC IN THE 2022 NATIONAL ELECTIONS

14 May 2022 - The Embassy of the Philippines in Korea reported that 2,945 Filipino voters, or forty-eight percent (48%) out of the 6,123 voters registered in the Republic of Korea, participated in the 2022 National Elections. The number of voters in Korea was above the average percentage recorded for the Asia-Pacific Region.

Of the total voters this year, 2,828 exercised their right to suffrage by personal voting at the Embassy premises in Seoul while 128 voted through field voting missions in Busan and Daegu on April 15 to 16 and April 29 to 30, respectively.

The Embassy was open for Overseas Absentee Voting for thirty (30) straight days from 10 April 2022 until 8:00 PM on 9 May 2022, Korea Standard Time. Counting of election returns, canvassing of votes, and transmission to the Philippines via the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) server lasted until 1:20 am of the following day in the presence of accredited media, poll watchers, and observers.

The election-related operations of post were undertaken by the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) headed by Consul General Romulo Victor Israel, the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) led by Chair Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and the Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) headed by Ms. Anna Gabriella Estimada-Guinto.

The Embassy is pleased to note that Seoul PE ranked as second-fastest voting center for transmittal overall (including local transmissions) to the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), and the first to successfully transmit election returns via the Automated Election System (AES) as an Overseas Voting post.

The original copies of official documents related to counting and canvassing were personally delivered to the NBOC by SBOC Chair Olavario on 13 May 2022.

Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega commended the Philippine Embassy officers and staff deputized by the COMELEC to serve as members of its electoral boards, as well as the technical and administrative support staff for their commitment to ensuring a transparent, fair, and safe Overseas Voting exercise while at the same time fulfilling their regular duties.

Ambassador De Vega likewise extended her appreciation to the Filipino community, particularly all voters, poll watchers, accredited media, and observers, and the support of the Korean government including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korean local police for the successful conduct of the elections. END

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Seoul, 4 November 2025 — Philippine Ambassador-designate to the Republic of Korea Bernadette Therese Fernandez paid a courtesy call on H.E. Koichi Mizushima, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Korea. The two Ambassadors exchanged views on recent APEC engagements in the ROK and efforts to strengthen multilateral cooperation among like-minded partners in support of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Ambassador Mizushima also recalled his fond memories of his earlier posting in Manila as a young diplomat. The meeting underscored the warm relations between the Philippines and Japan, and our shared commitment to advancing regional peace, stability, and prosperity. END

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November 13, 2025
PRESIDENT MARCOS HONORS FILIPINO KOREAN WAR VETERANS AT THE UNITED NATIONS MEMORIAL CEMETERY IN KOREA

Busan, Republic of Korea - H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, paid tribute to the valor and sacrifice of Filipino soldiers who served in the Korean War (1950–1953) during a solemn visit to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea (UNMCK) in Busan on 2 November 2025. President Marcos, accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, was received by Ambassador SUH Jeong-in, Custodian of the UNMCK. Also in attendance were Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office Dave O. Gomez, and Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez. Representing the Government of the Republic of Korea was Minister Kwon Oh-eul of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA). At the Philippine marker within the cemetery grounds, President Marcos laid a wreath and offered prayers in honor of the 7,420 Filipino soldiers who served under the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK). The President paid special tribute to the 116 Filipino servicemen who gave their lives in the line of duty, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their Korean and United Nations comrades in defense of peace, freedom, and democracy. The President also visited the Wall of Remembrance, where he read the names of the fallen Filipino PEFTOK heroes, some of whom hailed from his own hometown, before bowing his head in silent reflection. In the UNMCK guest book, President Marcos wrote:“We honour the Filipino soldiers of PEFTOK who valiantly fought and died shoulder-to-shoulder with their Korean comrades for freedom and democracy. Let us honour their legacy with lives that hold these principles still true. Mabuhay!” Following the ceremony, President Marcos and the First Lady participated in a ceremonial tree-planting at the Garden of the Heads of State, symbolizing the enduring friendship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea and the lasting peace and solidarity forged through shared sacrifice. The visit reaffirmed the Philippines’ enduring commitment to peace, democracy, and international solidarity. It also underscored the shared history and steadfast friendship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, forged in the crucible of war and strengthened by a common dedication to peace and prosperity. The Philippines was among the first countries to send troops to the Korean Peninsula in 1950, deploying five battalion combat teams under PEFTOK as part of the United Nations Command. The courage and sacrifice of the 7,420 Filipino soldiers remain a proud testament to the Philippines’ unwavering contribution to global peace and security. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea is the only UN-designated memorial cemetery in the world and serves as the final resting place for over 2,300 soldiers from 14 nations who fought under the UN Command during the Korean War. The Philippines’ participation and continuing remembrance reflect the depth of the two nations’ historical ties and their mutual commitment to the values of democracy and peace. END

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