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Korea, Philippines mark 75 years of ties with letters, air show

Published: 04 Mar. 2024, 16:40 Updated: 04 Mar. 2024, 18:43

LIM JEONG-WON
[email protected]

The Black Eagles, a special flight team of the Korean Air Force, perform a Big Arrow Formation at the Philippine Air Show at the Clark International Airport near Manila on Sunday. [KOREAN AIR FORCE]

The leaders of Korea and the Philippines exchanged congratulatory letters Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In a letter sent to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Phillippines, President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated both countries, saying that Korea and the Philippines have a solid and deep-rooted history of fighting together for freedom and democracy.

Yoon expressed hopes that the relationship between the two countries, which has developed in many fields including trade, human exchange and development cooperation over the past 75 years, will be upgraded to a “strategic partnership” in the future and take a “further leap” forward.

Yoon said he expected the Korea-Philippines free trade agreement (FTA), signed at the presidential summit between the two countries on the sidelines of the 43rd Asean Summit in Jakarta in September last year, to take effect within this year.

In his letter, Marcos expressed his intention to also pursue a “strategic partnership” between the two countries as FTA partners. He hoped that through this, a future-oriented foundation covering the digital, science and technology, climate change and energy fields would be established.

During the two presidents’ meeting in Jakarta last year, Yoon and Marcos noted Korea’s and the Philippines’ cooperation in several key fields, including trade, development, defense and tourism.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Phillippines, left, and President Yoon Suk Yeol shake hands during a summit on the sidelines of the 43rd Asean Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sept. 7, 2023. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

Yoon emphasized that Korea is keen on expanding opportunities for overseas Filipino workers in Korea, while Marcos thanked Korea for its financial support for development projects in the Philippines and for its continued support for the defense and security measures of the country. Marcos also noted that Koreans remain the top tourists in the Philippines and stressed the importance of “elevating current bilateral relations with Korea to a stronger strategic partnership.”

The Philippines is the first Asean country and the fifth in the world to establish diplomatic relations with Korea. The Southeast Asian country also dispatched 7,420 soldiers to fight in the 1950-53 Korean War, the largest number from any Asian country.

To further mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and the Philippines, a special flight team of the Korean Air Force, the Black Eagles, conducted a flight with the Philippine Air Force over Clark International Airport, located northwest of Manila, on Monday.

In the flight, eight Black Eagles T-50B aircraft of the Korean Air Force and four FA-50PHs of the Philippine Air Force flew side by side over the airport, where the air show is being held. The FA-50PH is a Korean-made light fighter and attack aircraft that the Philippines has purchased from Korea since 2014.

At the event Monday, high-ranking officials from the defense ministries of both countries as well as the bereaved families of 11 Filipino veterans of the Korean War who died in action were present to see the flight marking the friendship between the two countries.

The Black Eagles will demonstrate difficult aerial maneuvers such as the Taegeuk maneuver during the air show, held until March 5. On March 6, an event at the Korean War Memorial near Manila will be held with Filipino veterans.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [[email protected]]