South Korean President Yoon kicks off his 2-day visit to Philippines

ANKARA

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday kicked off his two-day state visit to the Philippines, which aims to boost economic and security ties with the Southeast Asian nation.

Yoon arrived in the capital Manila earlier in the day on the first leg of his three-nation Southeast Asia trip, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

Later in the day, Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon Hee will visit the Korean War Memorial Hall in Manila to pay tribute to the fallen Filipino soldiers who fought alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War.

The Philippines dispatched nearly 7,400 troops to help defend South Korea, with 112 soldiers killed and 299 injured.

Yoon will also meet with Korean nationals in the Philippines.

On Monday, he will meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss economic cooperation in the supply chain of critical minerals, energy, defense, and oceans, the news agency said.

Yoon will also attend a bilateral business forum on Monday to promote Korean companies' bids in major infrastructure and transport projects as well as to explore new business opportunities, according to his office.

South Korea is the Philippines' fifth-largest exporter, and bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached $13.65 billion in 2022.

On Tuesday, Yoon will pay a state visit to Singapore before traveling to Laos for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) annual summit meetings.