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