Marcos, S. Korean leader reaffirm strategic partnership in phone call

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the importance of sustained international support for the Philippines’ maritime interests and regional stability during a phone call with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

In their conversation on Thursday, the two leaders also reaffirmed the strong and enduring strategic partnership between their countries, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a press release.

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Marcos congratulated Lee, who assumed office on June 4, and expressed his full support for the South Korean leader.

“The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the Strategic Partnership, emphasizing cooperation in key areas such as trade and investment, defense and security, and people-to-people ties,” the PCO said.



Marcos also reiterated the Philippines’ appreciation for South Korea’s longstanding support for the country’s development programs and advocacies. He likewise expressed eagerness to meet Lee during the upcoming 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, which South Korea will host later this year.

For his part, Lee assured his support for stronger Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)–South Korea engagements as the Philippines prepares to assume the Asean chairmanship in 2026.

The Philippines and South Korea established diplomatic relations on March 3, 1949, and will mark 76 years of formal ties in 2025.

Relations between the two countries were elevated on October 7, 2024, through the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership, reflecting a shared commitment to enhance cooperation across key sectors, including political, security, economic, and socio-cultural areas.

In 2024, South Korea ranked as the Philippines’ 4th largest trading partner, 5th largest export destination, and 4th biggest import source, with total bilateral trade reaching $13.2 billion, or about P750 billion.

Philippine exports to South Korea were valued at $3.6 billion, or P205 billion, while imports from South Korea totaled $9.6 billion, or P548 billion.

Furthermore, South Korea was the Philippines’ leading source of foreign tourists in 2014, accounting for 26.37 percent of total arrivals. /jpv

(2025/08/15-09:19)

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