MANILA, July 10, 2008 (AFP) - South Korea is considering changing its visa rules to allow Filipino teachers to teach English, the Philippine foreign department said Thursday.

South Korea currently only allows teachers from countries where English is a national language, such as the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, but not the Philippines.

According to Philippine government officials, an estimated 200,000 South Koreans study English here, where English is one of the national languages.

Earlier this week, Philippine ambassador to South Korea Luis Cruz discussed the possibility of changing the visa rules with Choo Kyu-Ho who heads the South Korean Immigration Office.

Choo said South Korea was 'considering extending the scope' of the law since government schools were in need of more English teachers, the foreign department said in a statement here.

'With its highly qualified workforce, the Philippines can help South Korea meet this demand,' Cruz was quoted as saying.

Cruz said talks would continue between the two governments to extend the scope of the law and open the South Korean labour market to qualified Filipino English teachers.

An estimated 120,000 Filipino teachers currently teach in the United States.