Korean merchant shot in Philippines
A middle-aged Korean shop owner was shot to death near Manila, bringing the number of Koreans killed in the Philippines this year to 10.The 40-year-old man surnamed Hong was shot dead by a man in his 50s Sunday evening in Caloocan City, north of Manila, according the Korean Embassy in Manila yesterday.
Hong, who ran a second-hand shop in Caloocan, reportedly moved to the Philippines earlier this year and married a Filipino woman.
Local police said that according to witnesses, the suspect was allegedly haggling over prices with Hong earlier in the day, which led to a verbal altercation.
Police speculate the suspect returned to the shop later that day with a gun harboring a grudge from the earlier altercation.
Police said that the suspect shot at Hong three times before escaping.
The police said it is tracking the suspect by checking CCTV footage.
In September, a 40-year-old Korean woman surnamed Jung, a tour agency operator in Manila, was found dead in her office building.
In April, a Korean man surnamed Yim was fatally shot in a tourist area of Angeles City, north of Manila.
Besides the 10 killed, there were also five attempted murders of Koreans in the Philippines this year.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are some 100,000 Koreans residing in the Philippines.
The Korean Embassy in Manila has asked the cooperation of local police to strengthen protection for Korean residents there, including requesting the establishment of a special task force.
President Park Geun-hye last month held a summit with President Benigno Aquino III in which they agreed to work on protecting Koreans in the Philippines, including opening an annex of the Korean Embassy in Cebu.
BY SARAH KIM [sarahkim@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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