The Department of Tourism (DOT) named South Korean actor and singer Seo In-Guk as the Philippines’ new celebrity tourism ambassador Korea last February 21.
Seo’s ambassadorship was formalized via the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of understanding along with DOT Secretary Christina Frasco. The honorable role was bestowed to the actor given his “potential to strengthen cultural and tourism exchanges between the Philippines and South Korea.”
Frasco believed that Seo’s scope of influence within South Korea and Philippines will be instrumental to “deepen the bond” between the two countries. This will boost Koreans’ interest in visiting the Philippines along with its scenic destinations such as Boracay, Siargao, Cebu, and Bukidnon to name a few.
“I really feel (a) big responsibility as a representative of and as a promoter for one country. I really really want to thank everyone for making this happen for me and I really want to say that I will give back all the love that you gave to me,” Seo said in his acceptance speech.
According to DOT, South Korea was found to be a consistent top market for Philippine tourism. In the same light, Koreans were equally fond of the tropical country as 1.5 million tourists from South Korea were recorded to have visited the Philippines back in 2024.
Seo was perhaps an ideal choice to further strengthen the connection between two countries. It is worth noting that during the actor’s 2023 fan meet in Manila, he broke the record for the country’s longest solo fan meeting which lasted for more than three hours. Met with much enthusiasm from his Filipino fans, Seo promised that he would definitely go back to the Philippines.
True enough, on February 8 of this year, Seo was spotted at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport alongside BLACKPINK star Jisoo to shoot their upcoming Korean drama ‘Boyfriend On Demand.’ Hence, during his formal engagement with DOT, the actor shared that he was able to enjoy the world-famous and Pinoy favorite, lechon, which was Cebu City’s special delicacy.
Seo was known for his iconic roles in K-dramas such as ‘Shopping King Louie,’ ‘Doom at Your Service,’ and ‘Death’s Game’ to name a few. Not only is he a versatile actor, but he was also known for his musical prowess with one studio album and sixteen released singles.
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