President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (left) and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea on Friday (Oct. 31, 2025). Both leaders vowed to deepen PH-South Korea strategic partnership, which was formalized last year. (Photo courtesy of Presidential Photojournalists Association)
BUSAN, South Korea — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung reaffirmed the deep and enduring alliance between their nations, vowing to expand cooperation in defense, infrastructure, and the fight against transnational crime during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju on Friday.
Marking the first anniversary of the Korea–Philippines Strategic Partnership, the two leaders agreed to take the relationship “to a new level of cooperation and mutual support,” anchored on shared history and growing economic and security ties.
Lee described the meeting as “particularly meaningful,” noting the Philippines’ role in the Korean War and the enduring friendship that has flourished since. “The Republic of Korea and the Philippines are very special friends,” he said. “We have supported and helped each other through the years, and I hope this visit takes that friendship even higher.”
Marcos, in turn, expressed gratitude for Korea’s steadfast partnership, citing decades of collaboration and solidarity. “From fighting side by side during the war to standing together in times of calamity and protecting our citizens, the Philippines and Korea have always shared a bond of resilience and trust,” he said, congratulating Lee for successfully hosting the APEC Summit.
Both sides agreed to boost cooperation in shipbuilding, infrastructure, and the defense industry, while ensuring a smoother business environment for Korean companies in the Philippines. They also highlighted the Korea–Philippines Free Trade Agreement, now entering its first anniversary, as a key driver for deeper trade and investment exchanges.
On law enforcement, the leaders committed to intensify efforts against cross-border crimes, including online scams targeting their nationals. Lee thanked Manila for establishing a Korean Help Desk within the Philippine National Police, while emphasizing the need for “coordinated regional action to root out organized and cyber-enabled crimes.”
Marcos also pledged Manila’s support for peace and stability efforts on the Korean Peninsula, particularly as the Philippines prepares to chair the ASEAN summits in 2026. “There is a real opportunity for us to promote a rules-based order and a more secure, prosperous region,” he said.
Lee, for his part, reaffirmed his vision of “peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity” in the region, welcoming the Philippines’ role in advancing that goal.
Their meeting—the first in-person engagement between Marcos and Lee—signaled a renewed chapter in the Manila–Seoul alliance, uniting both countries in their pursuit of regional security, economic resilience, and digital transformation.