(UPDATE) THE Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB) has announced that South Korean actor and singer Seo In Guk will serve as the Philippines' Celebrity Tourism Ambassador for Korea.

The announcement came during a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing event conducted at the DOT office on Friday.

This agreement intends to strengthen the existing strong cultural and tourism ties between the Philippines and South Korea, which is now the leading source of international visitors to the Philippines.

"South Korea has long been the Philippines' top source market, and the Philippines is home to a thriving Korean community, as Filipinos also have a great fondness for many things Korean," Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said during her keynote address.

"Therefore, we anticipate that this partnership with Mr. Seo In Guk will further foster the love of South Koreans for the Philippines and enable us to share the many wonders of our beautiful nation," she added.

Seo In Guk, a popular personality in the Korean entertainment industry with a large international fan base, is known for his outstanding performances in Reply 1997, Doom at Your Service, and Shopping King Louie.

The partnership with Seo in Guk and the DOT seeks to boost the Philippines' status as a top tourism destination for Korean visitors.

As part of this collaboration, Seo In Guk will conduct promotional efforts in both countries, highlighting popular places such as Boracay, Cebu, and Manila.

His task will be to promote the Philippines' rich cultural legacy, and hospitality through a variety of media outlets and official tourist programs.

The DOT and TPB stated that Seo In Guk will play an important role in promoting the Philippines as the best tourism destination for both existing and new Korean travelers.