| June 4, 2004 COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The Republic of Korea (South Korea or ROK) is a highly developed, stable, democratic republic with powers shared between the president and the legislature. It has a modern economy, and tourist facilities are widely available. English is often not spoken outside the main tourist and business centers. The Korea National Tourism Organization (KNTO) can be reached in the United States by calling 1-800-868-7567, and has a useful web site in English at http://www.tour2korea.com. The KNTO also operates a telephone information service in the Republic of Korea, which can be reached by calling 1330 (02-1330 from mobile phones) anywhere in the country. The telephone service has English speakers and is available 24 hours every day throughout the year. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A passport is required. US passport holders may enter the Republic of Korea without a visa for a stay up to 30 days for tourism or transit to another country. When staying for more than 30 days or for any purpose other than tourism or transit, a visa must be obtained prior to entering Korea. Generally, individuals staying in Korea for longer than 90 days must apply for an Alien Registration Card. Individuals who stay in Korea longer than the period authorized by Korean immigration are subject to fines and may be required to pay the fines before departing the country. Individuals who plan to stay longer than the period authorized must apply to Korean immigration for an extension in advance. Changes of status from one type of visa to another (from tourism to teaching, for example) are normally not granted in the Republic of Korea. In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child’s travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure. Exit permits are not required to leave Korea. However, if a parent requests through the Korean Immigration Office that a travel restriction be placed on a child, the child may be prevented from departing Korea. For further information on entry requirements, please contact the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea at 2320 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 939-5660 or via the Korean Embassy Internet home page at http://www.koreaembassyusa.org/. Republic of Korean Consulates are also located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Guam, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle. The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a web site with a directory of all Korean diplomatic missions worldwide at http://www.mofat.go.kr/mission/missions_map_en.mof. While active-duty U.S. military personnel may enter the Republic of Korea under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with proper Department of Defense (DOD) identification and travel orders, every SOFA family-member, civilian employee and contractor must have a valid passport to enter Korea and, in some cases, a visa authorizing SOFA status. Active duty military personnel should obtain a tourist passport prior to leaving the U.S. to accommodate off-duty travel elsewhere in Asia. DOD travelers should consult the DOD Foreign Clearance Guide before leaving the U.S. The Republic of Korea's new Incheon International Airport is about one to two hours' drive, depending on traffic, from the Seoul city center. There are no subways or railways connecting the Incheon International Airport to Seoul, but buses and taxis are available. DUAL NATIONALITY: The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist citizens abroad. The Government of the Republic of Korea does not recognize dual citizenship and requires persons with a claim to dual citizenship to choose or reject Korean nationality before December 31 of the year the individual turns 17. An individual is a citizen of the Republic of Korea if his or her name appears on the Korean Family Census Register. Any male who appears on the Family Census Register must fulfill his two-year military obligation unless he has surrendered his Korean nationality before December 31 of the year he turns 17. After that date, he cannot surrender his Korean nationality until after he has fulfilled his military service. After fulfilling his military service, the dual national has two years to choose his nationality before he loses his Korean citizenship. Women are not required to serve in the military.
A Korean national who naturalizes in another country (after having immigrated) loses Korean citizenship, and therefore has no military obligations in Korea. There have been several instances in which young American men of Korean descent, who were born and lived all of their lives in the United States, arrived in the ROK for a tourist visit only to be drafted into the Republic of Korean army. At least two of these cases involved U.S. citizens of Korean descent whose names had been recorded on the Korean family census register at the time of their birth in the U.S. and who had been unaware of their Korean citizenship. For additional information, consult your nearest Republic of Korean consulate and see the Department of State’s Consular Affairs' home page on the Internet at http://www.travel.state.gov/ for our Dual Nationality flyer. SAFETY AND SECURITY: In recent years, the U.S. Embassy and U.S. military installations throughout the Republic of Korea have taken steps to increase security at all facilities. U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea should review their own personal security practices, be alert to any unusual activity around their homes or businesses, and report any significant incidents to local police. Political, labor, and student demonstrations and marches have on occasion become confrontational and/or violent. In September 2002, three U.S. soldiers were confronted by a group of activists on a train, and one of the soldiers was forcibly taken to an anti-American demonstration and held against his will for three hours. Later that month, firebombs were hurled at a U.S. military installation near Uijongbu. In October 2002, a group of seven demonstrators climbed over the wall of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and attempted to set the American flag on fire. On March 26, 2003, two protestors unfurled an anti-war banner on top of the Embassy’s wall and another two lowered themselves into the Embassy compound and moved toward the Embassy entrance before being subdued. Military police apprehended 14 protestors on June 6, 2003, who breached the perimeter of a US military installation in Seoul intending to hang banners and ROK flags from a tower. On July 25, 2003, protestors breached the wall of a US military installation but failed in their attempt to burn the US flag. On August 7, 2003, protestors burned a US flag and threw small bottles of paint at a US military facility in Seoul. Several demonstrations occurred in the first half of 2004 with participants protesting either for or against labor accords, the impeachment of the Korean President, and the war in Iraq. The majority of these demonstrations were not violent in nature. Nevertheless, American citizens are advised to stay away from large gatherings. Although the Republic of Korea is generally safe, American citizens in the Republic of Korea can minimize personal risks to themselves and their property by exercising caution and avoiding areas in which demonstrations are being held, as well as by avoiding confrontation with protestors. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet website at http://www.travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Up to date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). The U.S. Embassy in Seoul will continue to keep the U.S. community informed of any changes in the overall security situation. To hear a recording of the most up-to-date security information affecting U.S. citizens in Korea, please call (011-82-02)-397-4114 and press the following series of numbers: 1,1,1,7. In addition, notices concerning security matters will also be broadcast on AFN television and radio. The Embassy encourages all U.S. citizens to register their presence in Korea with the American Citizens Services office at the U.S. Embassy, telephone (011-82-02)-397-4114, fax (011-82-02)-397-4101 and Internet address http://www.usembassy.state.gov/seoul or http://www.asktheconsul.org/. American citizens may also subscribe to receive warden messages and monthly newsletters by providing their e-mail address at www.asktheconsul.org or by sending an e-mail to join-seoulacs@mh.databack.com . CRIME INFORMATION: Although the crime rate in the Republic of Korea is low, in major metropolitan areas, such as Seoul and Pusan, there is a higher incidence of pickpocketing, purse snatching, assaults, hotel room burglaries, and residential crime, and foreigners can be targeted. U.S citizens are more likely to be targeted in known tourist areas, like Itaewon and other large market areas. Incidents of rape have recently increased in popular nightlife districts in Seoul. Travelers should exercise caution when traveling alone at night and should use only legitimate taxis, such as black-colored cabs, or public transportation, such as subway or bus service. Americans should stay alert, be aware of personal surroundings and exercise caution. Travelers may reduce the likelihood of encountering incidents of crime by exercising the same type of security precautions they would take when visiting any large city in the United States. The emergency number to reach the police anywhere in The Republic of Korea is 112 (02-112 from a cell phone). Foreigners who do not speak Korean can be connected to an English speaking interpreter on a twenty-four-hour, seven-day-a-week basis. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. The embassy/consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends, and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. To report an emergency such as a fire or medical emergency, 119 may be called anytime from anywhere in Korea (02-119 from a cell phone). Persons who do not speak Korean will be connected to an English speaker at the Korean National Tourism Organization (KNTO). U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad, for ways to promote a trouble-free journey. The pamphlet is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html or via the Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.
MEDICAL FACILITIES: Health care facilities in the Republic of Korea are good. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. A list of hospitals and medical specialists who speak English is available at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul or via the Internet at the Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations. When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the U.S. may cost well in excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page. OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP
(1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith. TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning the Republic of Korea is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance:
Safety of Public Transportation: Good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Availability of Roadside/Ambulance Assistance: Good (However, assistance personnel may not be able to speak English.) Although the Republic of Korean roads are well paved, traffic lights function and most drivers comply with basic traffic laws, the ROK has a significantly higher traffic fatality rate than the United States. Causes of accidents include excessive speed, frequent lane-changes, running of red lights, aggressive bus-drivers, and weaving motorcyclists. Pedestrians should be aware that motorcycles are sometimes driven on the sidewalks and drivers of all types of vehicles do not always yield to pedestrians in marked pedestrian crosswalks. It is safer to use pedestrian underpasses and overpasses where available. Traffic laws in the Republic of Korea differ from laws in the United States in some respects. At many intersections with traffic lights, drivers are not permitted to make a left-hand turn if there is a green light and no oncoming traffic; normally there is a green arrow for left-hand turns and drivers may turn only when the left-hand arrow is illuminated. In most other cases, left-hand turns are prohibited and drivers must continue until special u-turn lanes are indicated, where drivers may reverse direction and make a right-hand turn at the desired intersection. Drivers may turn right on a red light after coming to a complete stop. Seat belts are mandatory. Children riding in the front seat of vehicles must wear a seat belt or must use an appropriate child car seat. Passengers on motorcycles must wear protective helmets. An international driving permit issued in the U.S. by the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) is required of short-term visitors who drive in Korea. Otherwise, drivers must have a Korean driver's license. In all accidents involving an automobile and a pedestrian or motorcycle, the driver of the automobile, regardless of citizenship, is presumed to be at fault. Police investigations of traffic accidents usually involve long waits at police stations. Police may request to hold the passport of a foreigner involved in a traffic accident if there is any personal injury or a dispute about the cause of the accident. Criminal charges and heavy penalties are common in accidents involving injury, even if negligence is not proven. Persons arrested in accidents involving serious injury or death may be detained until the conclusion of the police investigation and legal process. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offense. People driving in the Republic of Korea may wish to carry a disposable camera to document any traffic accidents, even minor ones. For specific information concerning Korean driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, please contact the Korea National Tourism Organization office in Fort Lee, N.J., Telephone 1-800-868-7567 or check via the Internet at http://www.tour2korea.com. AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: Oversight of the Republic of Korea's air carrier operations are in compliance with international aviation safety standards (Category 1) according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assessment's of the Korean Government's Civil Aviation Authority. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at tel. 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA's Internet web site at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the DOD at tel. 618-229-4801. CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: Persons traveling to/from Korea or transiting to/from other countries should be aware that the Republic of Korean customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Korea of items such as firearms, ammunition, explosives, narcotics and prescription drugs, non-prescription health supplements, radio equipment, gold, books or other printed material, as well as video or audio recordings, that might be considered subversive to national security, obscene, or in any way harmful to the public interest and cultural property. Further, the Republic of Korea has customs laws and regulations to prevent the spread of hoof-and-mouth disease. Beef and pork products must be declared to Korean customs officials upon arrival. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington, D.C. or one of the ROK consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products are illegal and bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines. A current list of those countries with serious problems in this regard can be found at http://www.ustr.gov/reports/2003/special301.htm. Customs officials encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States. For additional information, please call telephone (212) 354-4480, or send an e-mail to atacarnet@uscib.org, or visit http://www.uscib.org for details. Travelers may also wish to check with the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at http://www.tsa.gov/public/ regarding what items can or cannot be exported from or imported into the US. CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Korean laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, fined, or imprisoned. People arrested in Korea, even for minor offenses, may be detained temporarily. Foreigners convicted of crimes in Korea, whether or not sentenced to prison, are commonly deported, and may be banned from returning to the country for several years. Foreigners deported from Korea must pay for their own plane tickets. U.S. citizens should be aware that there was one recent case in which a U.S. citizen was prosecuted under the Korean National Security Law, broad legislation that makes illegal actions considered subversive or anti-state. In this case, contact by the U.S. citizen with allegedly pro-North Korea figures in the United States and travel to North Korea formed part of the basis for prosecution. Adultery is a crime actively prosecuted in Korea. In 2002 a U.S. citizen was convicted of adultery and sentenced to six months imprisonment. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Korea are strict, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. American citizens have been detained solely on the basis of drug tests. Travelers should also be careful to adhere to Korean government regulations regarding currency exchange and customs declarations. Under the PROTECT Act of April 2003, it is a crime, prosecutable in the U.S., for U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens to exploit children sexually via pornography, the Internet or other means or to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a person under the age of 18 in a foreign country, regardless of whether there was intent. PASSPORT SEIZURES/EXIT BANS AND COMMERCIAL DISPUTES: The Government of the Republic of Korea sometimes seizes the passports and blocks the departure from the country of foreigners involved in commercial disputes. In such circumstances, the U.S. Government reissues a passport to a U.S. citizen who applies for one. The ROK exit ban, however, remains in effect, thereby preventing departure. WORKING IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Americans going to the Republic of Korea to work, teach or model (part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid) must enter the ROK using the appropriate work visa. Changes of status from any other visa status to a work visa are not granted within the country. Any foreigner who begins work without the appropriate visa is subject to arrest, costly fines, and deportation. Persons working without a valid work permit and who have a contractual dispute with their employers have little or no entitlement to legal recourse under Korean law. TEACHING ENGLISH: The U.S. Embassy in Seoul receives many complaints from U.S. citizens who have gone to the Republic of Korea to teach English at private language schools ("hagwon"). The most frequent complaints are that the schools and/or employment agencies misrepresent salaries, working conditions, living arrangements and other benefits, including health insurance, even in the written contracts. There have also been some complaints of physical assault, threats of arrest/deportation, and sexual harassment. Some U.S.-based employment agencies have been known to misrepresent contract terms, employment conditions or the need for an appropriate work visa. A comprehensive handout entitled Teaching English in Korea: Opportunities and Pitfalls may be obtained at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul via the Embassy's American Citizen Services home page at http://www.asktheconsul.org under "Teaching English," or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs homepage at http://travel.state.gov/ under Travel Publications. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Legally, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea remain in a state of war. Peace has been maintained on the Korean peninsula under an Armistice for nearly 50 years. Recently, political, economic, and social contacts between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea have increased significantly. However, the possibility of military hostilities that could necessitate the evacuation of U.S. citizens from the Republic of Korea cannot be excluded. The U.S. Government has developed a Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) plan for the evacuation of U.S. citizens. A guide for U.S. citizens about the NEO plan is available on line at http://www.asktheconsul.org/, or at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. To provide enhanced protection to the dependents of U.S. military service members and to civilian Department of Defense (DOD) employees and their families, DOD provides protective gas masks and hoods to its noncombatant community in the Republic of Korea. In addition, the U.S. Embassy provides the same level of protection to its U.S. citizen personnel and their dependents. The gas masks and hoods provide the most fundamental level of protection in an emergency in which chemical substances are present. These measures do not result from any recent incident. They are a prudent precaution to further enhance the safety of U.S. Government-affiliated personnel and their families, and are part of a continuing effort to improve the U.S. Government's overall safety and security posture. If the Department of State becomes aware of any specific and credible threat to the safety and security of U.S. citizens, that information will be provided to the American public at large. The U.S. Government is not providing protective equipment to private American citizens in the Republic of Korea. As always, U.S. citizens should review their own personal security practices and must make their own decisions with regard to those precautions that they might take to avoid injury. Those who may wish to acquire protective equipment for personal use should contact commercial vendors who may be able to provide such equipment. For further information, please refer to the Department of State Fact Sheet entitled, Chemical/Biological Agent Release, available at Internet address http://travel.state.gov/, or via the autofax by dialing (202) 647-3000 from a fax machine. During the monsoon season (June-August), there may be typhoons in Korea. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov. CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html. For answers to general inquiries regarding international adoptions and abductions, and to be forwarded to the appropriate country officer in the Office of Children's Issues, telephone Overseas Citizen Services at 1-888-407-4747. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling
1-317-472-2328. REGISTRATION/EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living in or visiting the Republic of Korea are encouraged to register on the Internet at http://www.usembassy.state.gov/seoul or http://www.asktheconsul.org/, by fax (011-82-02)-397-4101, or in person at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and obtain updated information on travel and security within the Republic of Korea. American citizens may also sign up for warden messages and monthly newsletters by providing their e-mail address at http://www.asktheconsul.org or by sending an e-mail to join-seoulacs@mh.databack.com. The U.S. Embassy is located at 82 Sejong-Ro Chongro-Ku, Seoul, telephone (82-2) 397-4114 fax (82-2) 738-8845. The U.S. Embassy's web page can be found at http://usembassy.state.gov/seoul. * * * This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated November 4, 2003, to update the section on Entry Requirements, Dual Nationality, Safety and Security, Crime Information, Aviation Safety Oversight, Customs Regulations, Criminal Penalties, Disaster Preparedness, Children’s Issues, and Registration/Embassy Location. Return to Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings Page | 
