Pinoy group: Situation in South Korea 'calm, normal'




 A group of Filipino scholars based in Seoul on Monday said there is no need to worry about them since the situation in South Korea remains "calm" and "normal" despite North Korea's declaration of a "state of war."

"We just want to assure anyone especially our families tsaka 'yung friends namin diyan that things remain calm and normal here in Korea, so business as usual po tayo," Eva Marie Wang, president of the Pinoy Iskolars in Korea (PIKO), said in an interview on GMA News TV's "Balitanghali."

PIKO is an official student organization recognized by the Philippine Embassy in Seoul.

In the phone interview, Wang said people in South Korea don't seem to be affected by the possibility of a war with North Korea, as they continue going to work and school as if there is no threat of danger.

"Actually ngayon po ako nga nagsusulat pa ako ng critical paper para sa klase ko so business as usual po tayo.  I think mas kami [Filipinos] 'yung nag-aalangan than the Koreans," she said.

Wang, however, said that the Philippine Embassy has advised them to follow the news and to remain in contact with them.

"The Philippine Embassy is in touch with different Filipino communities here in Korea and we're waiting for instructions as the need arises so we can relay the information to our respective communities," Wang said.

"As of now wala pang movement but I think the Philippine Embassy is actually thinking of the plan na evacuation but there's no specific pa na instruction so we're still waiting for instructions as of now," she added.

She said that there are 450 Filipino students in South Korea while there are around 80,000 Filipinos overall in the country.

On Saturday, North Korea declared it was in a "state of war" against South Korea and warned that any provocation would swiftly escalate into an all-out nuclear conflict.

President Benigno Aquino III has already ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to coordinate closely with Filipinos in Korea amid the escalating tension.

On Monday, South Korea said it will strike back if North Korea attacks its territory. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News

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