19 January 2025, Busan - The University of the Philippines in Diliman represented by the College of Arts and Letters signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Academic and Cultural Exchanges with the Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS) on 16 January 2025 at the BUFS Campus in Busan, Korea.

The UP Delegation was composed of College of Arts and Letters Dean Dr. Jimmuel Naval and Associate Deans Jovy Peregrino, Jose Wendell Capili, and Aura Abiera. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega was on hand to deliver congratulatory remarks and witness the signing and exchange of the agreement. 

The BUFS delegation was composed of University President Dr. Chang Soon Heung, Vice President Dr. Kwon Oh Kyoung, Dean for International Affairs Dr. Kwon Sun Hee, and Director of the BUFS Korea Institute for ASEAN Studies Dr. Dongyeob Kim. 

In his remarks, Dr. Chang cited the longstanding relations between Korea and the Philippines cemented by the Philippines’ contribution to the Korean War effort in the 1950s and how BUFS looks forward to contributing to greater exchanges in keeping with the university’s vision as a global institution. 

Ambassador Dizon-de Vega congratulated the UP and BUFS for reaching the agreement during the 75th year anniversary of Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations and reaffirmed the Embassy’s support for advancing Philippine Studies in Korea as well as more robust academic engagement between the two countries.

Dean Naval conveyed the warm wishes of the UP academic community and mentioned the many opportunities for academic and research exchanges under the MOU building on the past collaboration between UP and BUFS. 

The MOU is a renewal and expansion of an earlier MOU between the UP College of Arts and Letters and BUFS which resulted in active exchanges, conferences, cultural programs, and student and professorial visits. With the recently signed MOU, the coverage will be much broader and envisions participation of other colleges in the UP Diliman System including in fields such as the social sciences.