By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA
THEY are talented, intelligent and Korean-Filipinos.
Eight official candidates of the Miss Korea-Philippines 2018 beauty pageant were presented to the press during a presentation held at the City of Dreams Manila in Parañaque City last Saturday.
The candidates are Selina Bhang, Jung Youra, Cho Hye Jeong, Park Yu Kyung, Park Se Eun, Kwon Soo Jung, Kuk Son Yong, and Kwon Ji Hye.
Charles Kim, national director for Miss Korea-Philippines pageant, said that the winner of the regional contest in the Philippines will go on to compete in the 62nd Miss Korea Main Pageant in Seoul later this year.
“The winners of the Miss Korea Main Pageant will represent Korea in various international pageants like Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, etc.,” Kim said during the press conference.
Kim also said that they are also doing regional contests in Europe, US, and Latin American countries.
“The Miss Korea-Philippines aims to nourish the blooming relationship between South Korea and the Philippines and promote the rich and attractive culture of both continents,” he added.
After the war in May 1957, the Miss Korea pageant has served as a gateway to be able to showcase the many talents and the beauty of Korean women.
“For 62 years now, the Miss Korea pageant has been a platform for talented and intelligent young Korean women from different regions in South Korea and around the world to represent what they stand for and to show what truly makes a Korean woman,” Kim added.
Last year’s Miss Korea-Philippines winner Lee Hanna won first runner-up in the Miss Korea Main Pageant and then represented Korea in the 2017 Miss Earth beauty contest.
The grand coronation of the Miss Korea-Philippines 2018 pageant will be held at the Grand Ballroom of the City of Dreams Manila on May 8.
Based on the latest data released by the Bureau of Immigration, South Koreans are still the top visitor of the Philippines with a total inbound traffic of 1,467,982 tourist arrivals from January to November in 2017.
