Jamaine Punzalan

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<p>MANILA — South Korea President Lee Jae Myung in his state visit to the Philippines reunited with a Filipino worker he had helped during an industrial accident 34 years ago. </p><p>Lee said he had “formed a bond” with Ariel Gallak, who lost an arm in a Korean factory accident in 1992. </p><p>“At that time, most foreign workers who suffered industrial accidents were sent back to their home countries without receiving treatment or compensation, so Mr. Gallak also had to prepare for his return home,” Lee said on X. </p><p>But Lee said he assisted with the retrial process and after about a year, Gallak received recognition for convalescence and compensation. </p><p>Today, Gallak “shares advice with workers seeking jobs abroad, living a life that transforms his own pain into hope for others,” Lee said. </p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:440px;height:676px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2029120180467712334&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-03-05T02%3A26%3A57.079223%3A083428cf-2935-4aee-9408-6efe95f829ba%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=1d0d3e6c80e14930df567655a77136dc4d403be3&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2029120180467712334"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>“I express my deep respect for the entire journey he has walked,” the Korean leader said. </p><p>“Even if nationalities, skin colors, and languages differ, the sweat shed on this land by all must be duly respected. As president, I pledge to make even greater efforts so that foreign workers who come to Korea can return home carrying warm memories,” he added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/3/south-korea-president-arrives-in-ph-for-2-day-state-visit-1356">South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Marcos hold bilateral meeting</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/4/south-china-sea-among-topics-discussed-in-south-korean-president-s-state-visit-in-ph-0135">South China Sea among topics discussed in South Korean President&#x27;s state visit in PH</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>VETERANS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In his state visit, Lee also paid tribute to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/12/18/20/south-korea-honors-filipinos-who-fought-in-korean-war-on-70th-anniversary">Filipino veterans who fought in the Korean War.</a></p><p>“It is because of you that the Republic of Korea of today exists. On the foundation of the freedom and peace we defended together on a foreign battlefield, the friendship between Korea and the Philippines grows ever stronger today,” Lee said. </p><p>“The Republic of Korea will never forget that dedication and solidarity. I look forward to inviting the veterans and their descendants in the near future to convey our gratitude even more deeply,” he added. </p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:440px;height:700px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2029084251618955404&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-03-05T02%3A26%3A57.079223%3A083428cf-2935-4aee-9408-6efe95f829ba%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=1d0d3e6c80e14930df567655a77136dc4d403be3&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2029084251618955404"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>Some 7,500 Filipino fighters were sent to the Korean Peninsula to support United Nations Forces in 1952- the first foreign war the Philippines fought. Philippine troops, who fought alongside soldiers from 15 other nations under the UN command, were sent there just seven years after the end of World War 2, which had left their homeland in ruins.</p><p>At least 112 Filipinos lost their lives in the conflict. </p><p>While the fighting ended in 1953, South Korea and North Korea remained in a frozen conflict to this day, with periodic tensions largely due to threats from the north&#x27;s reclusive regime.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/4/ph-south-korea-sign-business-deals-on-shipbuilding-nuclear-energy-1658">Philippines, South Korea sign business deals on shipbuilding, nuclear energy</a></div><div><iframe width="725" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oUHXU8xW_d8" title="Marcos, First Lady welcome South Korea counterparts in Malacañang | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>South Korea President Lee Jae Myung in his state visit to the Philippines reunited with a Filipino worker he had helped during an industrial accident 34 years ago.</p>

South Korea President Lee Jae Myung in his state visit to the Philippines reunited with a Filipino worker he had helped during an industrial accident 34 years ago.

South Korea president reunites with Filipino worker he helped three decades ago

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South Korea president reunites with Filipino worker he helped three decades ago

Jamaine Punzalan

Published Mar 05, 2026 11:08 AM PHT

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South Korea

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Lee Jae Myung

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