Manila: The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) is extending its free Korean language training program to Filipino police officers stationed in major tourist destinations popular among Korean visitors. This initiative aims to enhance the ability of local police to communicate effectively with Korean tourists, who form a significant portion of the tourism market in the Philippines.

According to Philippines News Agency, the training is a collaborative effort between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the KCC, under the Tourism-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) Special Korean Language Class. The program equips police personnel in key locations like Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Davao, and Clark with foundational Korean language skills and cultural knowledge, enabling them to better assist and engage with Korean tourists.

The first batch of KCC-led language classes for TOPCOP was launched in 2024, involving 24 police officers. Since June, an additional 24 officers from the same tourist hotspots have been participating in the language training. The KCC emphasized that the TOPCOP Special Class represents more than just language acquisition; it is a testament to the cultural exchange and the shared objective of fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all tourists, particularly the thousands of Koreans who visit the Philippines annually.

The TOPCOP initiative enhances police presence in strategic tourist locations across the country, focusing on areas with a high density of visitors. The DOT's program, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police, has successfully trained over 8,000 police officers. Additionally, it has trained 270 barangay tanods (watchmen) and members of the barangay intelligence network to act as police multipliers.