Iloilo is renewing its bid for direct flights to Seoul, South Korea, positioning the province as a growing investment and tourism gateway in Western Visayas following high-level talks between Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa at the Provincial Capitol on Monday, January 26.
Defensor said the proposed Iloilo–Seoul route, which was shelved during the COVID-19 pandemic, has regained momentum amid strengthening economic ties between Iloilo and South Korea.
The province currently hosts around 500 Korean residents, alongside rising Korean-linked tourism, trade, and business activities.
“A direct international route is no longer aspirational—it is strategic,” Defensor said, noting that enhanced air connectivity would spur foreign investments, boost tourist arrivals, and expand regional trade while reinforcing Iloilo’s role as Western Visayas’ commercial hub.
Discussions during the meeting also highlighted expanding Philippines–Korea cooperation in infrastructure, education, tourism, information technology, and workforce development, sectors seen as critical to sustaining Iloilo’s long-term growth.
Ambassador Lee cited the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II, funded through Korean Official Development Assistance (ODA), as a landmark initiative for flood control and agricultural resilience in the region.
He described the project as a vital investment that strengthens food security while protecting communities from climate-related risks.
Lee also reaffirmed South Korea’s support for the proposed Panay–Guimaras–Negros Bridge, a major connectivity project expected to transform mobility, trade, and economic integration across the Visayas.
Provincial officials said the combination of improved international air access and large-scale Korean-funded infrastructure could elevate Iloilo from a domestic growth center into a regional investment gateway.
The ambassador was joined by representatives of the Philippines-Korea Economic Council and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry–Iloilo Chapter, led by PCCI Iloilo President Fulbert Woo, signaling strong private-sector interest in deepening bilateral economic ties.IMT
