03 August 2025, Seoul – Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Edwin Gil Q. Mendoza welcomed Director Kyung Min Bae, PhD of the UP – Korea Research Center along with nine (9) students from the Philippines, at the Sentro Rizal Conference Room last 3 August 2025. The visiting student delegation is part of a special study tour Korea-Philippines Next Generation Koreanists Exchanges, Collaborations & Trainings (KONECT), organized by the UP – KRC and supported by the Korea Foundation (KF).   

The KONECT program is designed to deepen the understanding of Korea and Korea-Philippines relations among young Filipino scholars with a keen interest in Korean studies. Through academic challenges, cultural immersion, and collaborative activities, the program aims to nurture a new generation of Filipino Koreanists capable of contributing meaningfully to the field. 

This inaugural edition of KONECT seeks to equip participants from various Philippine universities with the knowledge and analytical tools to examine Korea’s historical and contemporary developments. It also encourages the students to translate their learning into actionable outputs that reflect their insights and experiences by the end of the program.  

Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Mendoza provided the students with a comprehensive overview of current Philippines – Republic of Korea relations. He highlighted key developments, including the recent elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, the signing of the Philippines – Korea Free Trade Agreement, and the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2024.

He also discussed the Embassy’s consular services, the welfare and protection of overseas Filipinos in Korea, and the types of employment opportunities available to Filipinos in the country. The students actively engaged in the discussion and raised insightful questions on a broad range of topics, including the West Philippine Sea, defense cooperation, the role of the Sentro Rizal in cultural diplomacy, and tourism initiatives.  

The participating students in the inaugural KONECT program are: Nathaniel Gabriel D. Escueta – Ateneo de Manila University, Jan Miguel R. Bersamira – University of the Philippines, Baguio, Krizza S. Canete – West Visayas State University, Hanz Margret D. Gadia – University of the Philippines, Diliman, Mahir P. Ibrahim – Mindanao State University, Marawi, Chynna Louise Riego – University of the Philippines, Diliman, Joshia Marie Morta – University of Santo Tomas, Sophia Mikaela Segundera – Miriam College, and Cyr Marlo N. Navasca – Far Eastern University. 

The majority of the students, who are pursuing degrees in International Relations or Asian Studies, expressed a strong interest in taking the Philippine Foreign Service Officers Examination. END