Members of the Korean community still trust the justice system in the country but are concerned about their safety following the kidnap-slaying of businessman Jee Ick Joo.
Charlie Shin, executive vice president of the United Korean Community Association in the Philippines (UKCA), said although they are confident that the Duterte administration will punish those responsible for Jee’s death, they are still worried over the safety of other Koreans in the country.
“We are afraid and we are a little bit worried. Of course, we worry about this. (But) I believe sooner the government (would) solve this problem,” Shin said.
Shin also called on the government and the public to join them in the quest of finding justice to Jee’s family.
Jee, it was recalled, was abducted by eight armed men, including four policemen, in Angeles, Pampanga last October 18, 2016.
“We are foreigners but we are living here. We trust the Philippine law and the government and this incident I believe will be sooner solve,” Shin said.
Shin said there are about 90,000 South Korean nationals living in the Philippines while there are about one million South Korean tourists who visit the country every year.
“We love the Philippines. We do also many social works with our Filipino friends,” Shin, who has been living in the country for the last 17 years already, said.
“I believe that this (incident) will not affect Korean tourism (in Manila) and Korean investment,” he added.
(Francis T. Wakefield)