30 July 2025, SEOUL - Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega paid a farewell call on the First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Park Yoonjoo and Director General for Southeast Asia and ASEAN Affairs Lee Donggy on 22 July 2025, to mark the conclusion of her four-year tour of duty in the Republic of Korea. 

During the meeting, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega expressed appreciation for the enduring friendship and robust cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea over the past four years, particularly following the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership in 2024. The First Vice Minister, in turn, thanked the Ambassador for her active and effective diplomacy, emphasizing that many of the bilateral accomplishments were made possible through the strong partnership between the two countries.

Both sides also reviewed the key achievements during the last four years, including expanded maritime dialogue and cooperation on ocean governance, enhanced defense cooperation, trade-related matters with a new FTA as a major accomplishment, and active partnership on transformative infrastructure projects. They also exchanged views on regional developments and reaffirmed the Philippines and the Republic of Korea’s shared support for a rules-based international order. In multilateral fora, both sides committed to close coordination ahead of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, building on the Republic of Korea’s hosting of APEC in 2025. 

Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to convene and enhance existing bilateral dialogue mechanisms, following the elevation of PH-ROK relations to a Strategic Partnership and the ratification of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement. These dialogue and consultation mechanisms allow our strategic partnership to deepen in the political, defense, economic, and people-to-people spheres. 

At the end of the meeting, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega assured the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that she will continue to be a friend of ROK and a champion of the Philippines - Republic of Korea strategic partnership even after she concludes her tenure. END