Sa isang briefing sa Malacanang, sinabi ni Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research Ernesto Abella na ito ang kauna-unahang official visit ni Duterte South Korea mula nang siya ay manungkulan bilang pangulo ng bansa.
“This visit has been in the works since President Moon invited President Duterte at the sidelines of the East ASEAN Summit in Manila last November 2017,” sabi ni Abella.
Dagdag ni Abella na nakatakdang makipagpulong ni Duterte sa Filipin community sa South Korea.
“The majority are workers entering the country under the Employment Permit System or EPS, while the rest are students, professionals, missionaries, and spouses of Korean nationals,” sabi ni Abella.
Tinatayang aabot sa 68,000 Pinoy ang nasa South Korea.
“Aside from the Fil Com, the President will also participate in a summit meeting, business luncheon forum, and a summit meeting, business luncheon forum and E-Mart Philippine Food Festival,” dagdag ni Abella.
Idinagdag ni Abella na nauna nang nagbigay ang South Korea ng donasyon sa Philippine Red Cross ng $100,000 bilang bahagi ng rehabilitasyon sa Marawi.
“There will also be a reference to social cooperation or the protection of nationals of both countries, with about 1.6 million Korean tourists to the Philippines and 450,000 Filipino tourists to Korea in 2017, aside from the expatriates in each country,” ayon pa kay Abella.