Lee Sang-hwa leaves Manila with a medal after helping turn South Korea from a cultural obsession into a strategic necessity.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confers the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu, on Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa, sealing a tenure that drew Manila and Seoul closer.
Photograph courtesy of PCO
The President conferred the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu (Grand Cross, Gold Distinction) on South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa during his farewell call at Malacañang Palace.
The prestigious award recognizes Ambassador Lee’s pivotal contributions to strengthening bilateral ties.
As the Philippines’ national order of diplomatic merit, the Order of Sikatuna honors foreign nationals and diplomats who render exceptional service in advancing international relations.
Marcos expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Lee for his impactful service during a transformative period that saw Philippines–South Korea relations attain historic milestones across political, economic, security and cultural sectors.
Since Ambassador Lee assumed his post in June 2023, bilateral relations have been formally elevated to a strategic partnership.
This diplomatic surge was catalyzed by reciprocal state visits and further solidified by President Marcos’ participation in the October 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju.
Economic and infrastructure milestones
Economic ties surged following the implementation of the Korea-Philippines Free Trade Agreement in December 2024.
Korea is now a top source of foreign direct investment, with expanded corporate footprints in semiconductors, energy and critical minerals. Notably, Korea has become a major partner in the Luzon Economic Corridor, driving the rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, investing in the Subic shipyard and backing the expansion of Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ Calamba facility — the first project approved under the CREATE MORE Act.
Infrastructure cooperation has also gained significant momentum through Korean involvement in transport projects nationwide, including railways, airports, seaports and the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge.
Defense and development cooperation
Defense cooperation has deepened, cementing Korea as a trusted security partner through the supply of primary military assets, including the Philippine Air Force’s FA-50 Fighting Eagles and modern navy frigates and corvettes. Simultaneously, development cooperation has thrived.
Korea remains one of the Philippines’ largest bilateral development partners, funding vital initiatives in infrastructure, digital transformation, healthcare, education, agriculture, climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
People-to-people exchanges reached record levels during Ambassador Lee’s tenure, with Korea remaining the Philippines’ primary source of foreign tourists alongside steady growth in Filipinos visiting Korea.
This close friendship was further reflected in the steady expansion of cultural, educational, and local government exchanges.
Upon receiving the award, Ambassador Lee expressed his gratitude to Marcos and the Filipino people for the warmth and cooperation extended to him throughout his assignment.
Ambassador Lee concludes his tour of duty after serving as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of the Philippines since 2023.
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