27 November 2022, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy conducted its first face-to-face seminar since the pandemic under the Know Your Rights and Responsibilities Seminar Series on the topic of "Rights of Filipino Women and Children in South Korea" on 19 November 2022 at the Seoul Global Center.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega said that South Korea is one of the top destinations for Filipino marriage migrants all over the world. She believes that it is important for the Philippine Embassy to work with marriage migrants, counselors, and Filipino community leaders alike to re-orient them on the South Korean culture on marriage, and equip them with the knowledge necessary for dealing with critical issues, including divorce, child custody, and domestic violence. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise shared that the activity was also intended to be a networking session for both marriage migrants and Filipino counselors and Korean experts to get to know each other, share stories and experiences, and render wise advice to each other.

Attended by nearly 50 participants both online and offline, the seminar featured experts who discussed various aspects of multicultural family life in South Korea, including the Filipino-Korean Heritage Association's President and former member of the Korean National Assembly, Ms. Jasmine Lee, on ROK policies on multicultural families; the Filipino-Korea Spouses Association's President, Ms. Fe Gimarino-Kim, on experiences of multicultural families; Windows of Asia NGO's Public Interest Lawyer, Atty. Eun Hye Lee, on Korean laws against domestic violence; Korea Legal Aid Corporation's Head of Legal Assistance, Atty. Wi Seung Yong, on Korean laws on divorce, child custody, and child support; Advocates of Public Interest Law's Atty. Soo-yeon Jun on Korean laws against trafficking; and the Migrant Women's Right Center's Deputy Director, Ms. Hyejeong Kim, on the marriage migrant support system in South Korea.

The seminar was held in commemoration of the International Month for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children and in observance of the Philippines' 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, an advocacy campaign observed annually by the Republic of the Philippines as mandated by Proclamation 1172 s. 2006. The seminar was also held in furtherance of the Embassy's Gender and Development program.

Filipinos in Korea experiencing domestic violence and abuse may seek the Philippine Embassy's assistance by contacting its Assistance-to-Nationals hotline at +8210-9263-8119 or our Emergency Hotline at +8210-9365-2312. END