South Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man speaks at the Makati Shangri-La in 2019 Korea National Reception Dinner (File Photo by Monsi A. Serrano/THEPHILBIZNEWS)
By Monsi A. Serrano
His Excellency Han-Dong man, outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea (ROK), will be remembered best for his successful tour of duty in the Philippines as pointed out by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte last Thursday.
Amb. Han was in Malacañang for his farewell call to the President when he was conferred the “Order of Sikatuna,” the highest national order of diplomatic merit for “exceptional and meritorious services” that contributed to better relations between a foreign country and the Philippines.
It was in January, 2018 when Amb. Han began his assignment in Manila and since then, he has worked like no other before him to improve bilateral relations between his country and the Philippines.
This was pointed out by President Duterte when he conferred on the Korean ambassador the Rank of Datu, represented by the Order of Sikatuna’s gold distinction Grand Cross.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has recorded many of his accomplishments in bringing the two nations more closely together, beginning with opportunities for dialogue between the countries’ two leaders – Duterte and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
Malacanang, in a statement yesterday, confirmed that Amb. Han was vital for the “increased the frequency of high-level exchanges and interactions” between the two leaders who met several times on the sidelines of multilateral meetings and during Duterte’s bilateral visit to Seoul in 2018 and to Busan for the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit last year.
It was also the Korean ambassador who facilitated the signing between the Philippines and the ROK for the $1 billion (P50-billion) soft loan agreement to finance multiple infrastructure projects of the country until 2022.
This was noted by the President as part of Amb. Han’s “excellent diplomatic work,” which also made South Korea the Philippines’ fourth largest Official Development Assistance (ODA) source for 2019.
In that same year, South Korea was also the Manila’s fifth largest trade partner and fourth largest investor, he noted.
But perhaps, the most underscored point of Duterte in his tribute to Amb. Han and the Korean people is the invaluable and timely assistance extended by the ROK to the country at onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic early this year.
The Chief Executive applauded South Korea’s emergency and humanitarian assistance, which included a donation of face masks, personal protective equipment (PPEs), medicines, test kits, and rice when it was most needed by the country.
Add to that, Duterte recognized Amb. Han for ensuring his country’s assistance in bringing home 2,137 Filipinos from Korea, when the pandemic broke out.
Time and again, Amb. Han has stated in his speeches that the Philippines is an important historical and development partner of the ROK, expressing his nation’s desire to further strengthen relations between their country and ours.
He reiterated this in Malacanang, reassuring Duterte of South Korea’s commitment to further strengthen cooperation across all areas of mutual concern with the Philippines.
In bidding the ambassador farewell, Duterte hoped for broader and deeper cooperation between the two countries, particularly in defense and security and maritime domain awareness.
Incidentally, Amb. Han was also cited by the Philippine Senate which unanimously passed last Wednesday a resolution citing his masterful representation of Korea before the international community for more than 30 years.
Sen. Richard Gordon, who sponsored Senate Resolution No. 586, said Amb. Han should be recognized for having every intention to strengthen the ties between the Philippines and Korea.
Gordon emphasized that the Korean Embassy was a consistent donor of funds, equipment, supplies and goods to Filipinos in general and through the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) throughout the many natural calamities that struck the Philippines.
“Even in the face of COVID-19, Ambassador Han Dong-Man continued his duties to deepen the bond between the two countries, helping the Philippines secure $100 million in funding for its COVID-19 response, sharing vital information about Korea’s countermeasures to the coronavirus, and donating face masks for front-liners,” the resolution stated.
