President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left today for Seoul on the first leg of a five-day swing through South Korea and Japan to further firm up ties with those Asian neighbors, discuss bilateral and security issues with the leaders of the two countries and meet with thousands of overseas Filipino workers there.

The President arrived at Villamor Airbase shortly before noon and was met by Japanese Ambassador Kojiro Takano and South Korea’s Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Cho Hee-Yong.

After a brief send-off ceremony, the President boarded an 18-seater Learjet for the five-hour flight to Korea. Labor Secretary Patricia Sto.Tomas accompanied the President on her flight to Seoul.

Among those who saw the President off at the airport were Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya and Philippine National Police Chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.

In a statement issued earlier, the President noted the deep historical ties between the Philippines and South Korea, which is home to some 30,000 Filipinos.

She said her state visit is "an opportunity to renew our bonds of friendship and cooperation with the Korean people."

She also said South Korea is a source of substantial investment, trade and development assistance.

The President will hold summit talks tomorrow with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun to discuss ways of promoting cooperation and exchanges between the Manila and Seoul governments.

The President’s arrival in Seoul coincides with the 100^th day in office of the South Korean leader.

SEOUL (via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to manifest her desire for the Philippines to play a strategic role in maintaining peace and stability and promoting prosperity in Asia when she starts her three-day state visit here today (June 2).

The President, who left Manila on board a Lear jet before noon today, will also reaffirm the long-standing partnership of the Philippines and South Korea during her state visit, the first by any head of state under the administration of South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun.

Presidential Management Staff Head SiIvestre Afable said "security and development in Asia are uppermost in the President’s mind."

In a press conference at the Sofitel Hotel, Afable said the President had expressed deep concern over the possible spillover effects of the North Korean crisis in Asia.

The spillover has repercussions on the Philippines, which is the nearest Asean country to the Korean peninsula.

"The President has found it necessary to sustain the momentum of diplomatic initiative to resolve the North Korean issue through peaceful means," he said.

"She said the conflict could have spillover effects both politically and economically to other countries in the region," he added.

The North Korean issue will be among the top items in the forthcoming bilateral meeting between President Macapagal-Arroyo and South Korean President Roh.

The bilateral meeting will also take up, among other things, defense and economic cooperation as well as the welfare of Filipino workers here.

As of the end of last year, Filipino expatriates in South Korea totaled some 33,000, of whom 18,000 are undocumented.

One of the highlights of President Macapagal-Arroyo’s trip here is the visit to the war memorial on Wednesday (June 4) in memory of Filipino soldiers who died during the Korean War in the 1950s.

The Philippines, which started its bilateral relations with South Korea in 1949, sent a 1,500-strong Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea the year after.

The contingent formed part of the US-led coalition to defend South Korea against the communist invasion from the north.

Some 100 Filipinos died and 50 others were wounded in defense of democracy and freedom in Korea.

During her visit, President Macapagal-Arroyo will also take up trade issues to improve the balance of trade between the Philippines and South Korea.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary Mike Jaresco said that despite the growth of Philippine exports by more than 20 percent a year in the last five years, the government is taking a more aggressive push to improve its export position.

The President is scheduled to meet the four biggest associations in South Korea to persuade them to avail themselves of the Philippines as the hub of their regional operations.

She is also expected to take advantage of South Korea as a rich source of development assistance.

In the pipeline are the Laguindingan airport project involving three airports in Mindanao, the South Manila commuter rail project and the LRT II east extension, Afable said.