President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in South Korea on Thursday afternoon to participate in the 32nd Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM).
He is expected to promote the Philippines’ economic interests and strengthen relationships with other APEC member economies.
Philippine and Korean officials welcomed President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos upon their arrival at the Gimhae Air Base in Busan. They then proceeded to meet with members of the Filipino community who gathered at the Grand Wyndham in the coastal city.
“We are working hard to make sure that government services reach you, all the way here in Korea or wherever you are,” President Marcos told overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The President announced that the Philippines will soon open a Consulate General in Busan, the country’s second in South Korea after the embassy in Seoul, to bring essential consular services closer to Filipinos in the southern part of the peninsula.
“Sa susunod na taon ay magbubukas na ang Philippine Consulate General dito (Next year, we will open our new Consulate here in Busan),” he said, according to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
“Soon, you will no longer need to travel all the way to Seoul to renew your passports, to submit civil registry documents, and to legalize your documents for use in the Philippines,” the President added.
Mr. Marcos also confirmed the opening of a Social Security System office inside the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to streamline access to benefits and claims.
According to the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, there are more than 70,000 registered Filipinos in South Korea as of June 2025.
Also in attendance at the Filipino community gathering were Cabinet members, including Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Foreign Affairs Secretary Theressa Lazaro, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Patricia Caunan, and Special Assistant to the President for Investments and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go.
Aside from joining the AELM, the President’s schedule included attending the Leaders’ Dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and addressing the APEC CEO Summit, which brings together leaders from APEC members and top business executives.
President Marcos will also participate in a wreath-laying and tree planting ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan in honor of the 7,420 Filipino soldiers who fought during the Korean War as members of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea.
In his departure speech earlier at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, the Chief Executive said he is “fully confident that our participation in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting will produce concrete, meaningful outcomes that enhance cooperation, drive connectivity, and promote inclusive prosperity.”
The 32nd APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, which will gather leaders and representatives from APEC’s 21 member-economies, has the theme “Building Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper. The meeting will be held from October 30 to November 2.
