MANILA — The House of Representatives welcomed the upcoming state visit of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to the Philippines from March 3 to 4, 2026, saying it would reinforce the two countries’ Strategic Partnership and longstanding ties.

The visit will mark President Lee’s first trip to the Philippines since assuming office in June 2025. Lawmakers said it is expected to enhance cooperation in political, economic, defense, and people-to-people exchanges, particularly as the Philippines chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III described the visit as “a clear and welcome sign of the strength and maturity of the partnership between our two countries.”

“The Philippines values its strategic partnership with the Republic of Korea. Our relationship has been built over decades — through shared sacrifice, growing trade, strong defense cooperation, and deep people-to-people ties. President Lee’s visit sends a strong message that we intend to move this partnership forward in a meaningful way,” Dy said.

He added that both countries share democratic values and a commitment to international law and a rules-based order, stressing the importance of ensuring cooperation translates into tangible benefits for citizens.

“The Philippines and Korea share common principles — democracy, respect for international law, and a commitment to a rules-based order. But beyond these principles, what matters is how our cooperation improves the lives of our people. We look forward to expanding collaboration in trade, innovation, security, infrastructure, and exchanges between our citizens,” the Speaker said.

Dy also underscored the historical roots of bilateral relations, particularly the Philippines’ participation in the Korean War through the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK), which has since evolved into a broad partnership covering defense modernization, trade and investment, infrastructure, cultural exchange, and humanitarian assistance.

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Rep. Maria Rachel J. Arenas likewise welcomed the visit, highlighting its relevance to parliamentary diplomacy and ASEAN-Republic of Korea relations.

“President Lee’s State Visit comes at a pivotal time as the Philippines chairs ASEAN. It offers an opportunity to deepen ASEAN’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Korea and to advance cooperation on maritime security, digital transformation, climate action, and economic development,” Arenas said.

She also praised Lee’s leadership in promoting regional peace and engagement with Southeast Asia.

“We commend President Lee Jae Myung for his steadfast commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula and constructive engagement with Southeast Asia. The House of Representatives looks forward to working closely with our counterparts in the Korean National Assembly to further strengthen legislative exchanges and cooperation for the benefit of our peoples,” she added.

Arenas noted South Korea’s support for the Philippines in defense modernization, disaster response, infrastructure development, and trade growth, citing assistance to typhoon-affected communities, tourism exchanges, and expanding investments as examples of strong bilateral ties.

Lawmakers expressed hope that the visit would also expand cooperation in emerging areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, green growth, maritime collaboration, and supply chain resilience.

“The Philippines and the Republic of Korea have built a partnership that is forward-looking and grounded in mutual respect. We are confident that this visit will further strengthen that foundation and open new opportunities for both our peoples,” Dy said.

The House said it stands ready to support initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific region.