1. The fourth meeting between the directors-general for consular affairs of the Republic of Korea and the Philippines took place in Manila, the Philippines, on December 5, chaired by Director-General for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs Lee Jae-wan of the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Assistant Secretary of the Office of Consular Affairs Frank Revil Cimafranka of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

※ The ROK-Philippines meeting of directors-general for consular affairs is held in the two countries on a rotational basis. Its third round took place in Seoul on September 23, 2014.

2. The meeting covered in depth the full range of consular issues between the two countries, including ways to protect the Koreans in the Philippines; to safeguard rights and interests of the Filipinos in the ROK; to ensure convenience for the two countries’ nationals in visa processing and immigration matters; and to step up institutional cooperation on consular matters.

3. The ROK side extended appreciation to the Philippine government for its keen attention to the protection of the local Koreans; expressed concern over a number of violent crimes still being committed against Koreans in the country; and urged the Philippine government to continue paying attention and rendering assistance in that regard. In response, the Philippine side pledged to pay continued attention to the protection of the local Koreans and to offer assistance as needed in that regard.

° The two sides agreed to work closely together in preventing Koreans from falling victim to crimes; arresting and punishing violent crime suspects in a thorough and fair manner; and rendering assistance to victims and handling aftermaths of incidents and accidents.

4. The ROK side mentioned that as various immigration-related services for foreigners in the Philippines, including those regarding the return of the indigent to their home countries and the issuance of the Alien Certificate of Registration Identity card (ACR I-card), are available only at the Bureau of Immigration’s Manila office, Koreans face many inconveniences, including having to visit Manila for such services and delayed services. The ROK delegation asked the Philippine government to make improvements in that regard.

° The Philippine side responded that the Philippine government will positively consider delegating such affairs as fingerprint identification for and approval of the return of the indigent to their home countries to the Bureau of Immigration’s provincial offices. It added that improvements will made in the work process between Manila and provincial offices of the Bureau of Immigration to facilitate a faster issuance of ACR I-cards.

5. The ROK side also brought attention to the inconvenience faced by the Koreans working in restaurant, accommodation and distribution businesses in the Philippines who have to have their alien employment permits issued or extended on an annual basis, asking the Philippine government to seek improvements in that regard as well.

° In response, the Philippine side stated that the Philippine government will pay attention to this issue and, after inter-agency consultations, will work to improve the relevant work process.

6. The Philippine side asked the ROK government to pay keen attention to and support bids of some 18,000 foreign spouses/immigrants in the ROK to overcome cultural and language barriers and build stable lives in the country.

7. The ROK side explained various policy efforts under way at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Justice with the aim to protect foreign spouses/immigrants and support multi-cultural families.

8. The two sides agreed to hold the fifth meeting between the directors-general for consular affairs in Seoul at an appropriate time.


* unofficial translation