Recently, a Filipino acquaintance told me about the movie The Book of Fish that he saw during the Korean Film Festival.
The film featured the heartwarming tale of Moon Sun-deuk in the early 19th century. Moon, a fish vendor, was rescued from a shipwreck by Filipino fishermen and, after learning the local language, he served as the first Filipino interpreter.
In 1890, naval strategist Alfred T. Mahan opined that “whoever rules the waves rules the world.” Even when you set aside how much relevance it carries in today’s geopolitics, what remains unchanged is the paramount importance of the sea lanes. According to the International Maritime Organization, more than 80 percent of global trade is conducted through marine transports.
Korea’s maritime cooperation with the Philippines is undertaken in diverse ways. It was such a memorable moment when I boarded the Korean navy vessel Cheonjabong during its recent port of call in San Fernando, La Union last August.
Korea’s unwavering commitment and vision for maritime cooperation is particularly featured in its candidature of Busan – the largest port city in Korea and its gateway to the Indo-Pacific – to host the World Expo 2030. As we approach the 75th anniversary of Korea-Philippines diplomatic relations next year, maritime cooperation will gain prominence as a key locomotive to drive forward the immense potential of our shared seas, fostering a more flourishing and interconnected world.
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month for the various family and employment-based categories.