Philippine ‘tourism cops’ receive Korean language training 

The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) is continuing its free Korean language training program for Filipino police officers stationed in some of the most popular Philippine destinations for Korean tourists, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

In an interview at his residence in Makati City on Tuesday, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa said the KCC in the Philippines is “more than willing” to help increase the number of Korean-speaking police personnel in the country.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is partnering with the KCC to implement the Tourism-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) Special Korean Language Class.

Through the project, police personnel assigned to key Filipino destinations, such as Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Davao, and Clark, receive foundational Korean language skills and cultural knowledge, equipping them to better assist and engage with Korean tourists, the country’s top source market.

The first KCC-led language class for TOPCOP kicked off in 2024, with 24 initial students.

The KCC said 24 more police officers from the same destinations had been receiving the language training since June.

“The TOPCOP Special Class is more than just a language course. It is a symbol of friendship, of cultural exchange, and of our shared goal in creating a safe and inclusive environment for all tourists, especially for the thousands of Koreans who choose to visit and explore the beauty of the Philippines each year,” the KCC said in a statement on Tuesday.

Through the TOPCOP, the Philippine government beefs up police presence across strategic locations in the country, primarily in areas with a high concentration of tourists.

The DOT’s TOPCOP program has so far trained more than 8,000 police officers, in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police.

It has also trained 270 barangay tanod (watchmen) and barangay intelligence network as police multipliers.