DIPLOMACY TO K-POP -- South Korea's Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa vowed to deepen the cooperation and warm relations between Manila and Seoul during a Thanksgiving lunch that he hosted at his residence in Makati City on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
South Korea’s Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa aims to strengthen and deepen the cooperation and good relations between Manila and Seoul, saying that 75 years of friendship, characterized by diplomacy and K-pop and many more, have brought the two countries closer than ever.
“Our two countries are closer than ever – from K-pop and K-drama to cosmetics and cuisine – we’ve built strong bonds not just through diplomacy but through shared passion and culture,” Lee told the media during a Thanksgiving lunch that he hosted which coincided with the birthday of President Marcos.
EARLY CHUSEOK with members of the media
Korea will celebrate its annual thanksgiving holiday called “Chuseok” or the harvest moon festival on Sept. 16-18, a major event that will see the exodus of almost half of South Korea’s population to visit their families and honor their departed ancestors.
“Soft power, passion, and compassion – these are what truly unite us,” he said.
Lee said the deepening cooperation between the Philippines and South Korea is something worthy of a thanksgiving and added that one of the most rewarding parts of being his country’s ambassador to Manila is seeing Filipinos embrace Korea’s culture so warmly.
“Having been here since June last year, I’m also aware that when September hits, so does the Christmas season – the earliest, and longest celebration in the whole world! – with Jose Mari Chan and Mariah Carey already taking over the airwaves as well as social media,” he remarked.
“It’s different in Korea, but this is one of the things I love about the Philippines, this season of joy,” he added.
The South Korean mission in the country held last week the Korea World Travel Fiesta where it promoted Korea as a must-visit winter destination and will host by the end of September the Korean Film Festival.
Sohn Jie-ae, Ambassador for Cultural Cooperation of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that Koreans and Filipinos have a lot in common, especially their love for family and culture.
The Philippine government, through the Department of Migrant Workers, recently deployed the initial batch of 100 Filipino caregivers who were recruited, screened, and employed to provide caregiving assistance to eligible Korean households with infants or young children, pregnant women, single parents, or working couples. The first batch, recruited under a government-to-government arrangement, flew to South Korea in early August.
Lee said this marked the first time that Korean households opened their doors to foreigners.
“This is a testament to the high level of trust and confidence in the professionalism and integrity of Filipino caregivers. For sure, this new chapter will bring our people even closer together,” Lee said.
Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa with Manila Bulletin's Senior News Editor Isabel C. de Leon 
Korean Cultural Center Philippines Director Kim Myeongjin