South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man. File photo
MANILA -- A "Korea Town" will soon rise in Manila's Malate district.
South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man said plans for the development of a Korea Town in Manila are already in place.
"There are a lot of Korean restaurants and many Korean tourists visited there. With Manila City, we are envisioning to make that area, Malate area, as Korea Town," Han said during "The Virtual Presser" hosted by Presidential Communications Operations Office Global Media Affairs on Tuesday.
Han added that he already met Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and has asked for his support for the proposed Korea Town.
"I asked also him to lend his full support," Han said.
There is no timeline yet for the development of the proposed Korea Town in Malate, but Han said they are already working on it.
According to Han, about 1.6 million Korean tourists visited the Philippines in 2018.
He said he promised President Rodrigo Duterte that he will increase this number to 2 million during his term as ambassador.
"I made a promise to bring at least 2 million Korean tourists during my term," Han said.
The two countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Korea.
Relations between the two countries began after the Philippines provided military assistance to South Korea during its war with North Korea in 1949.