The year 2019 marks as the 70th year of the Philippine-Korea Diplomatic Ties. The Philippines extended and established foreign and diplomatic relations with South Korea on March 19, 1949.
Diplomatic cars carry the national flags of the country it represents, but there’s another significant feature in diplomatic cars that highlights the value of the bilateral relations of the countries. The CAR PLATE NUMBER!
Philippine Diplomatic Cars here in Korea bear the license plate beginning with the numbers 005.
This means that the Philippines is the 5th country to extend foreign and diplomatic relations to South Korea.
The older Koreans that I have met are quick to recognize and are very appreciative of the help extended by the Philippine government during the Korean war. Our country sent 7,468 soldiers, 125 were killed in action, and their names are written at the War Memorial of Korea together with other Korean war veterans.
I have two very significant encounters that I was able to write about (this is why I love blogging!). One was the taxi driver
That was a sentimental segue… Back to the significance of diplomatic plate numbers…
As the Philippines is the fifth country to extend foreign relations with Korea, which countries came first? This list is with their corresponding license plate issued to their respective diplomatic cars (reflects only the beginning of the license plate):
- United States of America – 001
- United Kingdom – 002 (January 18, 1949)
- France – 003 (February 15, 1949)
- China – 004 (maintained with Taiwan)
- Philippines – 005 (March 3, 1949)
- Holy See – 006 (formal relations started in 1966)
- Germany – 007 (December 1, 1955)
- Italy – 008 (November 24, 1956)
- Turkey – 009 (March 8, 1957)
- Thailand – 010 (October 9, 1958)
I hope you find this trivia as interesting as I did.
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Which country is number 6, Holy See? You stories about the grandfathers singing Filipino songs is very nice. Interesting trivia about diplomat number plates!
The Holy See represents the Catholic Church. It has its own diplomatic relationship and representations with other countries.
OMG! This is really an interesting trivia! Thanks for sharing this. When I visit Korea, will definitely look for the car’s plate number to identify the nationality of the passengers. HEHE.
Very interesting facts. Have not been to Korea but will check if happened to go there soon.
Interesting. But what is Holy See?
Ayos pang 5th diplomat ang PH. Well… Sana mawala na din visa requirement like ginawa ng Taiwan for 1yr.
The Holy See represents the Catholic Church. It has its own diplomatic relationship and representations with other countries.
Thanks for the new information about Korea and Philippine relationship. Didn’t know we are the 5th country who extended foreign relations with Korea.
Naalala ko dito yung isang scene sa CLOY, yung gamit ni hyun bin yung car na may specific plate number. I’m glad to know about this Philippine Diplomatic Cars. Kaya pala 005 ang license plate kasi pang fifth country tayo to extend foreign relations with Korea.
Thank you for sharing this trivia. Very interesting and informative! I love it. ☺️
Oooh, I read about this part of our history at Luneta when we first too the kids there. There’s a monument that stands there as remembrance to the Filipino soldiers that risked their lives to fight alongside Koreans.
Interesting facts, and glad the ties are getting stronger. I dont see any reason to break or weaken it.
Wow! I am a Korean culture enthusiast but I’ve never reached this point yet. This is such a great trivia, I’ll share this with my friends too!
I’ve also heard that Koreans know the song “Anak”. It’s very interesting that despite of the cultural differences one song unites the two different countries aside from the war.
admirable talaga ang naging reach ng “Anak”.
This is very interesting article, nice to know about the diplomatic car plate number. Thanks for sharing this.
you’re welcome:-)
This is really interesting! It definitely marks the friendly relationship that Philippines and Korea have for so many years.
Thanks for this new information. I love the ties between SoKor and PH
That’s an awesome privilege! We neighbouring countries in Asia should be friends like this 🙂
Wow! I had no idea we were the 5th on the list. So nice of Korea to acknowledge that through car plate numbers. Thanks for the share!
Thanks for this informative post! This excites me more to visit Korea again! Ang galing my code ang bawat nationality!
Yes! I’ve read about how we have extended help to Korea during the wars and it makes me feel proud. Who’d think a seemingly puny, defenseless nation has actually been instrumental in saving many people’s lives from across the globe (remember, we also saved Jews from the Nazis). Nakakaproud maging Filipino pag ganito.
Wow, its cool that the ‘ajosshis’ knew some of our classic Filipino songs. 🙂
Philippines is the 5th? Well… judging by the massive K-influence that we have here in the country, it is no surprise, haha. Darn, the US is almost always #1 in foreign diplomatic relations…
[…] the fifth country to extend diplomatic ties to Korea on March 3, 1949. This is manifested in the diplomatic car plate number of the Philippine Embassy cars. So, if you see a blue-plated car starting with 005, it belongs to the Philippine Diplomatic Corps. […]
Wow thanyou for sharing this trivia ms.wendy very imformative so nice tlga sa korea ❤️😍
Ang nice naman po nito very informative 😍 Thankyou for sharing ms wendy. Dagdag kaalaman nanaman ito..
Another great blog Ms.Wendy .Very informative po thank you for sharing this kind of trivia.Nakakatuwa na may korean na kumakanta ng kanta natin 🤗.And yung diplomatic relation natin sa kanila reflected sa carpl plate number😊.