SEOUL, 6 August 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez delivered a lecture to Korean youth ambassadors about how important their country’s relations with the Philippines, now on its 65th anniversary, are and what it is like to be a diplomat on Tuesday, 5 August 2014 at the International Youth Center, Gangseo-gu, Seoul.

Ambassador Hernandez gave the lecture on “Philippines-ROK relations and the role and responsibilities of a diplomat” during the Youth Ambassador Academy lecture series organized by the Korean Culture Association (KCA) inviting envoys from 11 embassies to speak before primary and secondary school students on 4-6 August 2014.

In the lecture, he spoke in detail of the involvement of the Philippines in the Korean War (1950-1953) – something every school child knows only a little about –, desribing the involvement of 7,420 Filipino troops as “the foundation of a unique and lasting bond of friendship between the Philippines and Republic of Korea.

Ambassador Hernandez also described to the kids aged 9 to 17 the Embassy’s work and paid tribute to the “important contribution of our diplomats in enhancing bilateral relations for the mutual benefits of our peoples”.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 3 March 1949, relations between both countries have evolved and strengthened in the areas of political, defense and economic cooperation, labor and consular matters and socio-cultural interaction.

In closing, Ambassador Hernandez commended the efforts of Mr. Jae-Min Jeong, President of the KCA, to build greater awareness of other countries through cultural exchange.

Since its founding in 1984, the non-profit KCA, which is accredited by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has sought to foster closer cultural exchange between Korea and the international community through cultural events such as the lecture series that aims to inspire the youth to become future diplomats.