It is no secret that Filipinos are very much into anything that is Korea. May it be drama, music, food, or culture, Filipinos have begun loving everything about Korea. The Hallyu wave that took the world by storm (yeah, remember Psy dancing to Gangnam Style and whole crowds syncopating?) has truly captured the Filipino hearts. It is no surprise that every Filipino’s dream to visit the Land of the Morning Calm.
As Korean culture gets more popular every year, tourist visa applications in the Korean embassy has dramatically increased. As per Korean Embassy website, “Total number of visa applicants increased from 90,000 in the year 2015 to 120,000 by the end of 2016. In the year 2017, total number of visa applicants recorded was around 160,000.“
This drastic increase caused the embassy to take steps to ease the process. In late March 2018, the embassy announced that they will no longer be accepting walk-in applicants. Tourist visa applications will only be processed through accredited travel agencies, similar to the process of Japanese visa application. However, no date was specified as to when this new process will begin. They also begun the process of accredited travel agencies.
Initially, the announcement of the list of accredited travel agencies was supposed to be issued last May 14. However, it was only on May 29, 2018 that the list was issued through a Visa Announcement in the Embassy’s website. Furthermore, the Embassy announced that it will no longer be transacting with walk-in applicants beginning July 1, 2018. But in every rule, there are exceptions. The Embassy will still be accepting walk-in applicants from any of the following:
- Spouses and children of Koreans;
- Holders of visa issuance number;
- Government employees with official business trip; and
- For those with humanitarian reason to travel to Korea urgently.
For everyone’s reference, below are the 35 agencies accredited by the Embassy.
| Agency Name | Contact Number | Address |
| Aboex Travel and Tours | 077-722-2141 02-246-1518 |
Unit 14 Upper Ground Globe Tower Plaza 1 Pioneer St., Cor. Madison St. Mandaluyong City |
| Adventure International | 02-884-9400 | G/F 3rd & 4th Floor Eurovilla 2, Rufino St. Legaspi Village Makati City |
| Ark Travel Express Inc. | 02-816-6416 146 | Alfaro Place, L.P Leviste St. Salcedo Village, Makati City |
| Blue Horizons Travel and Tours Inc. | 02-988-5000 23 | Floor Pacific Star Bldg Makati Avenue Cor Sen Gil Puyat Makati City |
| Budget Travel and Tours Inc. | 02-523-8120 | Suite 3, Metropolitan Tower, Mabini St. Malate Manila |
| Casto Travel Philippines Inc. | 02-810-0079 | 2/Flr Tuscan Bldg., 114 VA Rufino St., Legaspi Village, Makati City |
| City Travel & Tours Corporation | 02-812-9111 | LG8 Cityland 10 Tower 1, H.V Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City |
| Come On Phils. Golf & Travel Agency Inc. | 02-810-1959 | A-36 HK Sun Plaza Macapagal, Pasay City |
| Constellation Travels, Inc. | 02-224-1730 | 11/F Pryce Center Condominium 1179 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Bagtikan St. San Antonio Village, Makati City |
| First United Travel Inc. | 02-818-7181 02-819-3919 |
Garden Level Corinthian Plaza Paso de Roxas, Makati City |
| Getaway Tours International Inc. | 02-524-2202 02-524-2252 576 |
San Andres St. near corner Adriatico St. Malate, Manila |
| Grand Hope Travel, Inc. | 032-234-0764 | Lower Ground Level, SM City – NRA, Cebu City |
| H.I.S. (Philippines) Travel Corp | 02-718-5002 | 2/F Serendra Bonifacio High Street Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio |
| Hanatour Manila Inc. | 02-403-3993 | 2/F Damon Bldg., Macapagal Avenue, 1011 Pasay, Metro Manila |
| Hankookceb Corp. | 032-238-2595 02-776-0253 |
Trans Asia Building Room 301 Cor. MJ Cuenco Ave, Osmena Boulevard, Cebu City |
| Horizon Travel & Tours, Inc | 02-521-2586 490 | Potenciana Mansion Sta Monica St., Ermita Manila |
| International Journeys Inc. | 02-4000-550 | Unit 2 Third Floor Altra Center 1663 Jorge Bocobo Street Malate, Manila |
| Island Resort Club Tour Services, Inc. | 02-708-9999 | Unit 109-P, G/F Five Ecom Center, Pacific Drive, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City |
| JTB Asia Pacific Phil. Corp. | 02-894-5528 | 18th flr. RCBC Savings Bank Corporate Cntr., 26th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City |
| KP Joeun Consultancy Inc. | 02-854-5514 02-451-1282 02-998-6639 |
Retail 9, Goldland Millenia Tower J., Escriva Drive Ortigas Center, Pasig City |
| Las Palmas Tours And Travel Agency, Inc. | 02-711-7069 | G/F Unit b2 Imperial Bayfront Tower, 1642 A. Mabini St. Malate, Manila |
| Marsman Drysdale Travel Inc. | 02-887-0000 | 19th Floor Robinsons Summit Center Ayala Avenue, Makati City |
| MNK Travel & Tours Corp. | 02-687-4443 802 | One Corp. Center, Julia Vargas Cor., Meralco Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City |
| North Star International Travel, Inc. | 02-485-7272 | 19F Trident Tower 312 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City |
| Pan Pacific Travel Corporation | 02-243-6666 353 | E.T. Yuchengco Street, Binondo, Manila |
| Party-On Travel And Tour Community Inc. | 02-470-2000 | Unit C2 17th Flr. Strata 100 Bldg. F. Ortigas Jr. Ortigas Center, Pasig City |
| Rajah Travel Corporation | 02-894-0886 | 3/F 331 Building, 331 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City |
| Rakso Air Travel And Tours Inc. | 02-651-9000 | 3F Rico Bldg. #112, Aguirre St., Legaspi Village, Makati City |
| Reli Tours And Travel Company | 02-894-1214 | 3rd Floor Dusit Hotel Corner Edsa Pasay Road Makati City |
| Sharp Travel Service (Phils.) Inc. | 02-817-0071~ 4 | Suite 504 Alexander House Bldg. Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City |
| Swire Travel Phils, Inc. | 02-817-1082 | 6th Floor Country Spacel Bldg. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City |
| The Baron Travel Corporation | 02-817-4926 | 3F PCCI Corporate Center 118 L.P. Leviste Street Salcedo Village, Makati City |
| Travel Pros | 634-0265 634-0266 |
5F SM Megamall Bdlg B. Edsa Mandaluyong City |
| Travelservices, Inc. | 02-706-8600 | 2F Trinity Insurance Center 7504 Bagtikan Street, San Antonio, Makati City |
| Uni-Orient Travel, Inc | 02-243-3888 | 447 Juan Luna Street, Binondo, Manila |
