Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday conferred the Order of Sikatuna on outgoing South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa, in recognition of his significant contributions to the expanding cooperation between the Philippines and South Korea. Lee received the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu (Grand Cross, Gold Distinction), during his farewell call on Marcos at Malaca±an Palace.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Order of Sikatuna is the Philippines' national order of diplomatic merit, awarded to foreign nationals and diplomats who have rendered exceptional service in advancing international relations. Marcos expressed his appreciation to Lee for his valuable service during a period when Philippines-South Korea relations achieved major milestones in political, economic, security, and cultural fields. Lee thanked Marcos and the Filipino people for the support, hospitality, and cooperation extended to him throughout his assignment.
Since assuming his post in June 2023, Lee helped oversee the elevation of bilateral ties between the two nations to a strategic partnership, following reciprocal state visits and Marcos' participation in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea. Economic cooperation between the two countries also expanded with the implementation of a free trade agreement in December 2024.
South Korea has emerged as one of the Philippines' leading sources of foreign direct investments, with growing partnerships in sectors such as semiconductors, energy, and critical minerals. It played a role in strengthening the Luzon Economic Corridor, including projects involving the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, investments in the Subic shipyard, and the expansion of the Samsung Electro-Mechanics facility in Calamba, Laguna.
Infrastructure cooperation likewise gained momentum through South Korean-supported transport projects involving railways, airports, seaports, and the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge. Defense and security cooperation also deepened during Lee's tenure, with Seoul continuing to serve as a key partner in the modernization of the Philippine military through the provision of major defense assets, including the FA-50 Fighting Eagles aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, as well as naval vessels.
Beyond security and economic ties, South Korea remained one of the Philippines' largest bilateral development partners, supporting initiatives in infrastructure, digital transformation, healthcare, education, agriculture, climate resilience, and disaster preparedness. People-to-people exchanges also grew, with South Korea maintaining its position as one of the Philippines' top sources of foreign tourists while cultural, educational, and local government exchanges continued to expand.
