1. The Foreign Ministry will open a consulate, which is a regional office of an ROK Embassy, in Cebu, the Philippines, within this year.

o Cebu, home to about 4 million people, is the second largest city of the Philippines. There are fifteen direct flights from Seoul to Cebu every day, including those operated by national carriers. The city is a popular destination for Korean tourists and students (Around 400,000 Koreans visit the city a year and some 20,000 Koreans live there).

2. Cebu, where many Koreans visit or reside, geographically lies far away from Manila, where the ROK Embassy in the Philippines is located, so it was difficult to protect Koreans there or provide consular services in a timely manner. Considering this, the Foreign Ministry has consulted with relevant agencies about the opening of the consulate since last year.

o Cebu is about 600 kilometers away from Manila in a straight line. But, Cebu is located on a different island from Manila, so is accessible only by flights or boats.

o Violent crimes, such as murder and robbery, are frequently occurring in Cebu recently. Out of twenty-one murder cases that have taken place in the Philippines since last year, eight happened in Cebu.

3. The Foreign Ministry has already amended related laws and is making preparations with the goal of opening the consulate by the end of this year.

4. The opening of the consulate in Cebu will significantly improve consular services for Koreans, including Korean residents, tourists and students, in Cebu and surrounding areas. It will also make it possible to respond more swiftly to incidents or accidents.

o The consulate in Cebu will have jurisdiction over Cebu Island and surrounding islands, including Mactan, Boracay, Negros, Leyte, Bohol, Samar and Panay. 


              Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

*unofficial translation