Marcos honors outgoing South Korean envoy Lee Sang-hwa with Order of Sikatuna

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday conferred the Order of Sikatuna on outgoing South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa during the envoy’s farewell call at Malacañang Palace.

The Order of Sikatuna is the Philippines’ highest diplomatic honor bestowed on foreign officials, diplomats, and nationals for exceptional contributions to strengthening international relations.

According to the citation, Lee was awarded the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu), Gold Distinction, “in recognition of his many significant contributions to strengthening and deepening the strategic partnership and overall relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.”

Areas of cooperation include maritime affairs, defense procurement, veterans affairs, law enforcement, efforts to combat transnational crime, legal cooperation, agriculture, infrastructure development, trade and investment, economic innovation, critical raw materials, cosmetics, intellectual property, digital cooperation and innovation, digitalization, nuclear energy, cultural exchanges, tourism, and education.

Lee was also recognized for helping expand South Korea’s contributions to the Philippines’ socioeconomic development by promoting investments in strategic industries such as semiconductors and shipbuilding while advancing development assistance through technical cooperation, particularly in the areas of health, agriculture, and the environment. — VBL, GMA News