South Korean man shot dead at Asia's leading beach country

By Hoang Vu March 12, 2025 | 11:51 pm PT

Travelers line up at the immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Jan. 24, 2023. Photo by Reuters

A South Korean man was shot and killed by two robbers in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, voted as Asia's leading beach destination.

The incident occurred on March 7 in Malate, a major commercial district that is also home to Manila's Koreatown, according to Philippine media outlet GMA News and the Korean Embassy in the Philippines.

The victim was shot while resisting an attempted robbery and succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a hospital, Korea Herald reported.

CCTV footage showed him walking along a main road before entering an alleyway, where he was followed by four robbers on two motorcycles.

The suspects fled the scene shortly after the attack.

Philippine police are currently searching for the suspects.

The Philippines, which was named Asia’s leading beach destination at the World Travel Awards, welcomed 1.16 million foreign travelers in the first two months of the year, slightly more than the same period last year.

South Korea remained the top source of visitors to the Philippines, with 295,000 arrivals, accounting for 25% of all foreign tourists, according to Philstar.