MANILA – President Benigno Aquino III is set to visit South Korea in October, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Friday.
The DFA said Aquino will undertake a state visit to the Republic of Korea from October 17 to 18 upon the invitation of Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye.
The DFA said Aquino and Park will discuss bilateral issues, "particularly political, defense, economic, and development cooperation, and to exchange views on regional and international challenges, among others."
Aquino is also expected to meet with representatives from the Korean business community to discuss trade and investment opportunities in the Philippines.
The president is also scheduled to meet with the Filipino community there.
The DFA said the Philippines and South Korea established relations on March 3, 1949.
"During the Korean War in 1950, the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) joined the UN-led coalition in defending the freedom of the Korean people. Until today, both countries recognize this as the bedrock of Philippine-Korean relations," the DFA said.
"The two countries developed dynamic economic relations. The Republic of Korea is among the Philippines' leading partners in trade, investments and development cooperation.
The Republic of Korea remains the country's top source of tourists reaching more than a million in 2012 or nearly a quarter of total tourist arrivals to the Philippines."
