A Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said Wednesday, Dec. 4, there is no reason to cancel flights bound for South Korea amid the unexpected yet very quick implementation of martial law in the country.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said there is also no reason to cancel the trip of those going to South Korea because it is "not dangerous."
"Pero tingnan nyo na palaging may tension sa Korea dahil sa political situation (But just be mindful that there will always be tension in Korea because of the political situation)," De Vega said in a public briefing.
"Di namin kayo sinasabihan na 'wag na kayo pumunta pero kailangan nyo ng maintindihan na sa South Korea, ganyan 'yung politics nyan, palaging may maaaring mangyari at any moment (We're not telling you not to go there anymore. But you have to understand that anything can happen at any moment because of politics)," he added.
When South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law in the country on Tuesday night, which he eventually lifted soon, Filipinos there remained calm, De Vega said.
He said the Philippine Embassy in Seoul advised those Filipinos not to panic and just to take care. According to him, there are about 78,000 Filipinos in South Korea, including those documented and undocumented.
De Vega said it is unlikely that the employment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there will be affected.
The only main concern of the government is the Filipinos' safety and living conditions day by day.