The Philippine Embassy in Seoul reported to the Department the successful visit of Vice President Jejomar Binay to Korea on 3-5 August 2010. VP Binay came to Korea to preside over the 27th Asia Pacific Boy Scouts Jamboree in Suncheon City in his capacity as chairman of the Asia-Pacific Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

During his visit, he also called on Prime Minister Chung Un-Chan, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan, and Suncheon Mayor Roh Kwan Yu. They thanked VP Binay for the help given by the Philippine government during the Korean War in 1950 to defend democracy in the Korean Peninsula. They also pledged to sustain the level of bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Korea. During the first quarter of 2010, Korea topped the list of foreign investors at Php23.8 billion, which is 52.1 per cent of the total approved foreign direct investments for that period. Korea has also been the top source of tourists, foreign students and foreign residents in the Philippines during the last four years. VP Binay also met with 70 representatives of various Filipino community organizations in Seoul and 21 Filipina spouses of Koreans in Suncheon. He awarded certificates of appreciation to 11 representatives of Filipino community organizations for their humanitarian assistance given to victims of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. He also awarded medals of excellence to three Filipino workers who foiled an attempt to rape a teenage Korean girl. The three were earlier recognized by Namjangju Police Station in Kyeonggi-do for their bravery. As chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, VP Binay met with officials of the Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs to get a briefing on Korea’s housing welfare policy. He said that he will discuss the results of his meeting with member-agencies of HUDCC, including the issues raised by members of the Filipino community on housing during the open forum at the Philippine Embassy. VP Binay capped his visit with fruitful discussions with, and commitments from Korean investors in the areas of agriculture, housing construction and development of alternative sources of energy.