South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Is Coming to Manila Next Week — His First-Ever PH Visit After the Free Trade Deal Kicked In
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to make his first-ever state visit to the Philippines on March 3-4, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced Friday. The visit comes upon the personal invitation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — and it couldn't be more strategically timed.
This will be the first state visit since the Philippines-South Korea Free Trade Agreement took effect on December 31, 2024. The FTA has already begun reshaping trade between the two countries, and a presidential visit signals that both sides are serious about deepening the economic partnership.
Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will welcome Lee and his wife Kim Hea Kyung at Malacañang Palace on March 3. The two leaders are expected to hold bilateral meetings covering defense cooperation, maritime security, economic development, and people-to-people ties — essentially the full menu of diplomatic priorities.
The timing also coincides with the 44th anniversary of PH-South Korea diplomatic relations, founded in March 1949. Castro noted the leaders will also exchange views on regional issues and international affairs, likely including the South China Sea situation and broader Indo-Pacific security — topics where South Korea has become increasingly vocal.
Marcos had invited Lee to visit the Philippines back in 2025, calling it 'a real opportunity to promote a rules-based order, a more secure and more prosperous region.' With Korea being a major investor, employer, and cultural influence in the Philippines — from K-pop to Korean restaurants sa bawat kanto — this state visit hits different. Expect road closures in Manila come March 3.
Source: GMA News
