Pinoys in South Korea remain calm amid tension following martial law declaration

The Filipinos staying in South Korea remained calm after martial law was declared then lifted, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

"Well, kalmado naman ang mga Pilipino," DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(Well, the Filipinos are calm.)

"Walang tumatawag-tawag sa embassy na [in distress] sila kasi mukhang political issues naman [ang reason]. Hindi naman dahil sa peace and order problem although sinasabi ng president na lumalakas daw 'yung North Korea, 'yung mga banta nila," he added.

(No one is calling the embassy to say they are in distress since it looks like it was due to political issues. It was not due to a peace and order problem although the president was saying the threat from North Korea has become stronger.)

"Gayunpaman, 'yung tension, bababa," de Vega said.

(Nevertheless, the tension will go down.)

The DFA official also said Filipinos are known to be able to adjust to whatever issues face them in their host countries.

"Alam namin kaya ng Pilipino mag-adjust," he said.

(We know that Filipinos can adjust.)

"Safe"

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, South Korea issued an advisory to the Filipinos living there and to those visiting to remain calm and follow advisories following the declaration of martial law.

The DFA also said that there is no need to repatriate Filipinos in South Korea.

"No need to repatriate Filipinos from there/ they know the lifestyle there and border tensions. They are safe," DFA undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said in a viber message on Wednesday. 

De Vega also cleared that there is no alert level issued for South Korea, GMA Integrated News reporter Joseph Morong said on X. 

"Hindi namin kayo sinasabihan na huwag kayong pumunta. Hindi naman mapanganib pero maraming tensiyon," said the undersecretary. 

(We are not telling you not to go to South Korea. It is not dangerous, but there are a lot of tensions.) 

Normal so far

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made the announcement on Tuesday declaring martial law "to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order."

However, Parliament rejected the declaration.

Yoon then said he would lift martial law.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega on Wednesday said life is normal so far.

"Sa ngayon po dahil kaninang alas-kuwatro ng madaling araw, naanunsiyo na po na na-lift na ang martial law, sa ngayon, normal naman ang daloy ng mga tao, mga sasakyan sa kalye," she said in an interview on Unang Balita.

(For now, because it was announced at 4 a.m. that martial law was lifted, people go about their normal routine, even the vehicles on the road.)

"May pasok ang mga eskwelahan. Kami rin sa embahada, regular operations po kami. At ganu'n din 'yung ibang mga embahada rito," Dizon-De Vega said.

(Schools have classes. We at the embassy will have regular operations. It's the same with other embassies here.)

"Wala na po [kaguluhan] (There is no more tension)," she added.

DFA Usec. de Vega said the department is advising Filipinos to take precautions nonetheless.

"Ang advice namin, be very circumspect and careful. Take precautions 'pag nasa abroad kayo. Take extra precaution kung itutuloy ang trip," he said.

(Our advice [to Filipinos is] be very circumspect and careful. Take precautions when you are abroad. Take extra precaution if you will proceed with your trip.)

There are 68,000 Filipinos in South Korea, de Vega said. The number increases when there are seasonal workers such as farm workers. —with reports from Sherylin Untalan/ KG/ VAL, GMA Integrated News