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Jean Mangaluz - Philstar.com
March 3, 2026 | 7:57pm
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos (R) and South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung (L) lead their delegations during a bilateral meeting at the presidential palace in Manila on March 3, 2026.
MPC Pool / Rolex dela Pena
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Malacañang Palace, marking Lee's first visit to the Philippines since assuming office.
Lee arrived in Manila on Tuesday, March 3 with First Lady Kim Hea Kyung and was accorded full welcome honors.
The two leaders first held a closed-door meeting before convening a bilateral discussion with their respective ministers. They agreed to expand ties in defense and maritime security, and other areas such as technology, manufacturing and trade.
"Our closer defense, security and maritime cooperation reflects our mutual trust as we respond to a rapidly evolving international security environment," Marcos said.
He noted that the Philippines–Korea free trade agreement has opened new opportunities for exchange and investment, including exports of bananas and other tropical products.
Marcos also thanked Lee for its support for major infrastructure projects, including the new Dumaguete Airport, the Samar Pacific Coastal Road, the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project and the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network.
He also South Korea's assistance for the Panguil Bay Bridge in Mindanao, which is now operational.
Agreements signed
Following the talks, Philippine and South Korean officials signed several memoranda of understanding, including agreements on digital cooperation, technology and innovation, defense materials procurement, veterans affairs, agriculture, trade and investment, intellectual property, language programs in schools, cultural cooperation and police collaboration.
Among the key agreements were:
- An MOU on digital cooperation between the Department of Information and Communications Technology and Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT.
- An amendment to a defense procurement arrangement between the Department of National Defense and Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
- MOUs on agriculture, trade and investment, intellectual property, and police cooperation.
- Agreements on Korean language training in Philippine schools and cultural exchanges.
Geopolitical discussions
Marcos said he and Lee also discussed matters pertaining to the West Philippine Sea and the Korean Peninsula.
"We both recognized the growing uncertainty in geopolitical developments, which is why we agreed on the need to firmly and consistently uphold a rules-based order governed by international law, including in the maritime domain," Marcos said.
He added that the agreements signed would sustain the momentum of the Philippines–Republic of Korea strategic partnership.
