A 37-year-old Korean was caught by surprise after the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced that he was the one-millionth Korean visitor in the country on Thursday.

The passenger identified as Kooknam Han, who flew in aboard Philippines Airlines (PAL) flight PR-467 from Incheon, South Korea, admitted that he was merely surprise about the treatment that he was getting from the DOT.

“Please notify the two-millionth Korean visitor next time, so that he or she can look good before the camera,” Han jokingly said.

Han received two business class round-trip tickets (Incheon-Manila-Incheon) from Philippine Airlines; accommodation for two nights stay at the Edsa Shangri-La and Cebu Shangri-La Hotels, including a package tour for two anywhere in the Asian region courtesy of DOT.

Han, who first came to the Philippines in 1995, claimed that he is CEO of a mining firm, supplying heavy mining equipment to local companies in Negros. He lives in a rented house in Tagaytay and two of his children are studying at a local international school.

He said that this is his 50th trip to the Philippines, and visit his wife and kids at least once a month.

Tourism Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz said the DOT has spearheaded in promoting Korea because the two countries have a long historical ties being one of the first country to send soldiers during the Korean War.