Marcos congratulates S. Korea’s new president Lee Jae-Myung

FILE: Lee takes the presidential oath of office in the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly, 4 June 2025. (Photo By Republic of Korea from Seoul, Republic of Korea/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday extended his congratulations to South Korea’s newly elected president, Lee Jae-Myung, expressing the Philippines’ intent to bolster bilateral ties with the Republic of Korea (ROK).

“On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate Lee Jae-Myung on his election as President of the Republic of Korea,” Marcos said in a statement released on social media.

Marcos said the Philippines values its deep and enduring ties with South Korea.

“I look forward to working with him to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership between our two countries,” he added.

Lee Jae-Myung secured the presidency in a closely watched snap election that drew regional and international attention, following the impeachment of his predecessor President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The Philippines and South Korea elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership in October last year, aiming to deepen cooperation in maritime security, climate change, infrastructure, and people-to-people exchanges.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1949. Since then, the two have shared a strong, multifaceted relationship characterized by robust partnerships in various fields like defense, security, trade, and cultural exchange.

Beyond military ties, the two nations are significant economic partners, with South Korea being a major trading partner and source of foreign investment for the Philippines.

In tourism, South Koreans remained the number one foreign tourists in the Philippines.

Furthermore, cultural exchange and people-to-people connections, fueled by phenomena like K-pop and K-dramas, contribute to a vibrant and growing relationship between the Manila and Seoul.