Manila: The Philippines and South Korea have agreed to strengthen coordination and security measures to ensure the safety of Korean nationals visiting and residing in the country, Malaca±ang said on Saturday.

According to Philippines News Agency, this development follows a high-level dialogue between the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and representatives from the Korean consulate and the United Korean Community Association in the Philippines. The meeting, which took place on Friday, focused on tackling the rising crimes against Korean nationals in the country.

PAOCC Executive Director Gilberto Cruz laid out the Philippine government's plan to bolster the security and safety of Korean residents. The strategy includes revitalizing the Tourist Security Desk, a specialized unit designed to ensure police visibility and enhance coordination among local authorities to safeguard foreign nationals consistently.

Key areas such as Angeles City in Pampanga, as well as Manila and Cebu, will see intensified monitoring efforts. The Palace emphasized that these initiatives underscore PAOCC's commitment to dismantling organized crime and suppressing criminal activities nationwide, highlighting its role in maintaining peace, order, and public safety.

Sang Seung-Man, Deputy Chief Mission and Consul General of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, proposed international police cooperation and intelligence gathering, alongside robust support from Philippine authorities.

The discussions were partly prompted by a recent incident on April 20, where a Korean national was shot dead near a bank in Angeles City's Korean Town, in an event linked to robbery. In response, the Korean Association Community of Angeles City has offered a PHP200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.