PH, S. Korea sign deals on agri, trade, defense, digital cooperation

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

NEW AGREEMENTS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung witness the exchange of signed memoranda of understanding after their bilateral meeting at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday (March 3, 2026). The agreements cover cooperation in digitalization, agriculture, trade and investment, defense, education, culture, and law enforcement, reinforcing the Philippines–Republic of Korea strategic partnership. (Photo: PNA/Facebook)

MANILA – The Philippines and South Korea on Tuesday signed at least 10 agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation in key areas such as digitalization, agriculture, trade and investment, defense, and education.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung witnessed the exchange of the signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) following their bilateral meeting at Malacañan Palace in Manila.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Ministry of Science and ICT signed an MOU on digital cooperation.

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also inked an MOU on the Technology, Digitalization, and Innovation Program.

The Department of National Defense (DND) and South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration signed Amendment Number 2 to the Implementing Arrangement concerning the procurement of certain defense materials.

The DND also signed another MOU with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to bolster cooperation in the field of patriots and veterans affairs.

The Philippine National Police signed an MOU with the Korean National Police Agency to improve police cooperation.

The Department of Agriculture signed an MOU with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs to boost agricultural cooperation.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) inked an MOU with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources on trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

The DTI also signed another MOU with the Ministry of Intellectual Property to reinforce cooperation in intellectual property.

The Department of Education and the Ministry of Education also signed an MOU on cooperation under the Special Program in Foreign Language in Philippine Schools.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism likewise signed an MOU on cultural cooperation.

In a joint press conference after his bilateral meeting with Lee and the presentation of agreements, Marcos said the Philippines and South Korea made significant strides in advancing and deepening bilateral cooperation.

Marcos said he and Lee discussed a wide range of areas in the two countries’ bilateral partnership, including defense and security, maritime cooperation, economic and development cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.

“And as we have just witnessed, we concluded a number of agreements in the fields of defense materials procurement, veterans affairs, agriculture, trade, investment and economic cooperation, intellectual property, digital cooperation, digitalization and innovation, Korean language training in schools, cultural cooperation, and police cooperation, which will sustain the momentum of the Philippines-Republic of Korea Strategic Partnership for the future,” he said.

“I express once again my heartfelt thanks to President Lee and his delegation for this very fruitful visit,” the President said.