06 January 2025, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul capped off an active stint as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) with a presentation of events and a turnover to the incoming ACS Chair, Malaysia, at a simple ceremony held on 02 January 2025 at the Philippine Embassy’s Sentro Rizal.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega presented a review of activities during the Philippine chairing of the ACS from July to December 2024. These included conferences on areas of ASEAN-ROK engagement such as in the Startup and Innovation sector, Intellectual Property Cooperation, and ASEAN-ROK Partnership; a business-related site tour of the Amore Pacific facilities in Osan; the inauguration of the ASEAN-Jeju Friendship Olle Trail; and the holding of the annual ASEAN Family Day, among others.

In passing on the chairmanship to Malaysian Ambassador His Excellency Dato’ Mohd Zamruni Khalid, Ambassador Dizon-de Vega acknowledged the support and active participation of all the ACS members in the different events during the Philippines’ chairmanship.

Ambassador Khalid thanked the Philippines for its efficient and active steering of the ACS in the last six months and outlined some possible ACS activities for the first half of 2025 including a forum on ASEAN matters, economic related site visits and meetings, and activities with ASEAN students in Korea.

ASEAN and Korea commemorated 35 years as Dialogue Partners last year and likewise elevated its relations to that of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the ASEAN Summit in 2024.

Present at the turnover activity were Ambassadors and representatives of the ASEAN member countries.END