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KOREA (SOUTH)
Compiled from the October 2004 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes. Official Name: PROFILEGeographyArea: 98,500 sq. km. (38,000 sq. mi.); about the size of Indiana. Cities: (1998) Capital—Seoul (11 million). Other major cities—Busan (3.9 million), Daegu (2.5 million), Incheon (2.4 million), Gwangju (1.4 million), Daejeon (1.3 million). Terrain: Partially forested mountain ranges separated by deep, narrow valleys; cultivated plains along the coasts, particularly in the west and south. Climate: Temperate. PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective—Korean(s). Population: (2000) 48.3 million. Annual growth rate: (2000) 0.93%. Ethnic groups: Korean; small Chinese minority. Religions: Christianity, Buddhism, Shamanism, Confucianism, Chondogyo. Languages: Korean. Education: Years compulsory—9. Enrollment—11.5 million. Attendance—middle school 99%, high school 95%. Literacy—98%. Health: (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate—7.85/1,000. Life expectancymen 70.75 yrs.; women 78.5 yrs. Work force: (2004) 22.8 million. Services—68%; mining and manufacturing—20%; agriculture—12%. GovernmentType: Republic with powers shared between the president and the legislature. Liberation: August 15, 1945. Constitution: July 17, 1948; last revised 1987. Branches: Executive—president (chief of state). Legislative—unicameral National Assembly. Judicial—Supreme Court and appellate courts; Constitutional Court. Subdivisions: Nine provinces, seven administratively separate cities (Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan). Political parties: Our Open Party/Uri Party (UP); Grand National Party (GNP); Millennium Democratic Party (MDP); United Liberal Democrats (ULD); Democratic People's Party (DLP). Suffrage: Universal at 20. Central government budget: (2000) Expenditures—$101 billion. Defense: (1996) $12 billion, about 2.8% of total GDP and 15.5% of government budget (prior to capital expenditures); about 650,000 troops. EconomyNominal GDP: (2003 est.) About $605.2 billion. GDP growth rate: 2002, 7.0%; 2003, 3.1%; 2004 est., 4.7 to 4.8%. Per capita GNI: (2003 est.) $12,646. Consumer price index: 2002 avg. increase, 2.7%; 2003, 3.6%. Natural resources: Limited coal, tungsten, iron ore, limestone, kaolinite, and graphite. Agriculture, including forestry and fisheries: Products—rice, vegetables, fruit. Arable land—22% of land area. Industry: Types—Electronics and electrical products, motor vehicles, shipbuilding, mining and manufacturing, petrochemicals, industrial machinery, textiles, footwear. Trade: (2003) Exports—$193.8 billion: electronic products (semiconductors, cellular phones, computers), automobiles, machinery and equipment, steel, ships, textiles. Major markets—China (including Hong Kong) (25.7%), U.S. (17.7%), European Union (12.8%), Japan (8.9%). Imports—$178.8 billion: crude oil, food, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals and chemical products, base metals and articles. Major suppliers—Japan (20.3%), U.S. (13.9%), China (13.8%), European Union (10.8%). PEOPLEPopulationKorea's population is one of the most ethnically and linguistically Korea experiences one of the largest rates of emigration with ethnic Koreans residing primarily in China (1.9 million), the United States (1.52 million), Japan (681,000), and the countries of the former Soviet Union (450,000). LanguageThe spoken Korean language is very similar to Japanese and differs grammatically from Chinese. Korean also does not use tones. The language is related to Japanese, Mongolian, Hungarian, and other Ural-Altaic languages. Nevertheless, about 90% of all Korean vocabulary has Chinese roots. Chinese ideograms are believed to have been brought into Korea sometime before the second century BC. The learned class spoke Korean, but read and wrote Chinese. The phonetic writing system was invented in the 15th century by Chosun King Sejong to provide a writing system for commoners who could not read classic Chinese. Modern Korean is based almost entirely on the phonetic writing system, although Chinese characters remain in limited use for word clarification. Approximately 1,300 Chinese characters are used in modern Korean. English is taught as a second language in most primary and secondary schools, with unbalanced emphasis on rules of grammar. Chinese and Japanese are widely taught at secondary schools. ReligionOnly half of the population actively practices religion. Among this group, Christianity (49%) and Buddhism (47%) comprise Korea's two dominant religions. Though only 3% identified themselves as Confucianists, Korean society remains highly imbued with Confucian values and beliefs. The remaining 1% of the population practice Shamanism (traditional spirit worship) and Chongdogyo, ("Heavenly Way") a traditional religion. HISTORYThe myth of Korea's foundation by the god-king Tangun in BC 2333 embodies the homogeneity and selfsufficiency valued by the Korean people. Korea experienced many invasions by its larger neighbors in its 2,000 years of recorded history. The country repelled numerous foreign invasions despite domestic strife, in part due to its protected status in the Sino-centric regional political model during Korea's Chosun dynasty (1392-1910). Historical antipathies to foreign influence earned Korea the title of "Hermit Kingdom" in the 19th century. With declining Chinese power and a weakened domestic posture at the end of the 19th century, Korea was open to Western and Japanese encroachment. In 1910, Japan began a 35-year period of imperial rule over Korea. Memories of Japanese annexation still recall fierce animosity and resentment by older Koreans, as a result of Japan's efforts to supplant the Korean language and culture. Nevertheless, restrictions on Japanese movies, popular music, fashion, etc. have been lifted, and younger Koreans eagerly follow Japanese pop culture. Japan's surrender to the Allied Powers in 1945, signaling the end of World War II, only further embroiled Korea in foreign rivalries. Division at the 38th Parallel marked the beginning of Soviet and U.S. trusteeship over the North and South, respectively. On August 15, 1948 the Republic of Korea (R.O.K.) was established, with Syngman Rhee as the first President; on September 9, 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.) was established under Kim Il Sung. On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces invaded South Korea. Led by the U.S., a 16-member coalition undertook the first collective action under United Nations Command (UNC). Shifting battle lines and continuous bombing of the North inflicted a high number of civilian casualties and wrought immense destruction. Following China's entry on behalf of North Korea in 1950, and the stabilization of the front line the following summer, stalemate ensued for the final 2 years of the conflict. Armistice negotiations, initiated in July 1951, finally concluded on July 27, 1953 at Panmunjom, in the now Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The resulting Armistice Agreement was signed by the North Korean army, Chinese People's Volunteers, and the U.S.-led and R.O.K.-supported United Nations Command. A peace treaty has never been signed, and the R.O.K. refused to sign the Armistice Agreement. Domestically, South Korea experienced political turmoil under years of autocratic leadership. Military coups and assassinations characterized the country's first decades. But a vocal civil society emerged that led to strong protests against authoritarian rule. Composed primarily of university students and labor unions, protests reached a climax after Major General Chun Doo Hwan's 1979 military coup and declaration of martial law. A confrontation in Gwangju in 1980 left at least 200 civilians dead but consolidated nationwide support for democracy. In 1987, South Korea was able to hold its first democratic elections in many years. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONSSouth Korea is a republic with powers shared between the president and the legislature. The president is chief of state and is elected for a single term of 5 years. The 273 members of the unicameral National Assembly are elected to 4-year terms. South Korea's judicial system comprises a Supreme Court, appellate courts, and a Constitutional Court; the judiciary is independent under the constitution.
The country has nine provinces and seven administratively separate cities—Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan and Daejeon. Political parties include the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP); Grand National Party (GNP); and, Our Open Party/Uri Party (UP). Suffrage is universal at age 20. In December 2002, President Roh Moo-hyun was elected to a single 5-year term of office. The Uri Party is the current majority party in the National Assembly following elections that were most recently held in April 2004. Principal Government OfficialsLast Updated: 2/8/05 The spellings of names of South Korean officials have been changed to reflect widely recognized spellings. President: ROH Moo-hyun Korea maintains an embassy in the United States at 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-939-5600). Consulates general are located in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, Houston, Honolulu, and Hagatna (Guam). ECONOMYThe Republic of Korea's economic growth over the past 30 years has been spectacular. Per capita GNP, only $100 in 1963, exceeded $12,000 in 2003. South Korea is now the United States' seventh-largest trading partner and is the 12th-largest economy in the world. In the early 1960s, the government of Park Chung Hee instituted sweeping economic policy changes emphasizing exports and labor-intensive light industries, leading to rapid debtfinanced industrial expansion. The government carried out a currency reform, strengthened financial institutions, and introduced flexible economic planning. In the 1970s Korea began directing fiscal and financial policies toward promoting heavy and chemical industries, as well as consumer electronics and automobiles. Manufacturing continued to grow rapidly in the 1980s and early 1990s. In recent years Korea's economy moved away from the centrally planned, government-directed investment model toward a more marketoriented one. Korea bounced back from the 1997-98 crisis with some International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance, but based largely on extensive financial reforms that restored stability to markets. These economic reforms, pushed by President Kim Dae-jung, helped Korea maintain one of Asia's few expanding economies, with growth rates of 10% in 1999 and 9% in 2000. The slowing global economy and falling exports contributed to slower 3.3% growth in 2001, prompting consumer stimulus measures that led to 7.0% growth in 2002. Consumer over-shopping and rising household debt, along with external factors, slowed growth to near 3% again in 2003. Although final figures are not yet available, economic performance in 2004 was expected to improve to near 5.0%, although based largely on vibrant exports. Economists are particularly concerned that South Korea's economic growth potential has fallen, due to structural problems that are becoming increasingly apparent, along with a rapidly aging population. Foremost among these structural concerns is the rigidity of South Korea's labor regulations and the need for more constructive relations between management and workers, although the country's underdeveloped financial markets and a general lack of regulatory transparency are also key concerns. Restructuring of Korean conglomerates (chaebols) and creating a more liberalized economy with a mechanism for bankrupt firms to exit the market are also important unfinished reform tasks. Korean policy makers are increasingly worried about diversion of corporate investment to China and other lower wage countries. North-South TradeTwo-way trade between the two Koreas has increased from $18.8 million in 1989 to $724 million in 2003. In 2003, South Korea imported $289.2 million worth of goods from North Korea, mostly agro-fisheries and metal products, while shipping $434.9 million worth of goods, mostly humanitarian aid commodities including fertilizer and rice, materials to construct railways and roads, as well as the component parts for processing-on-commission businesses in North Korea. The R.O.K. is North Korea's second-largest trading partner, after China. Numerous ventures by the Hyundai Asan Corporation have contributed to North Korea's economy, including the Mount Keumgang (Diamond Mountain) tourist site. Last year alone, 88,130 visitors traveled by Hyundai-operated passenger ships, and via land routes, as part of this tourism initiative, raising the total number of South Koreans to visit the North to over half a million. Nearly 1,023 North Koreans traveled to South Korea in 2003, mainly for joint sporting events. Hyundai Asan and KOLAND, a Korean Government agency, are co-developing an 800-acre industrial complex in Kaesong, located just north of the DMZ. The year 2003 saw significant progress on reconstructing road and rail links across the DMZ with the Seoul-Kaesong link of the Gyeongui (Western line) scheduled for completion by mid-2004. FOREIGN RELATIONSIn August 1991, South Korea joined the United Nations along with North Korea and has remained active in most UN specialized agencies and many international forums. The Republic of Korea also hosted major international events such as the 1988 Summer Olympics, the 2002 World Cup Soccer Tournament (co-hosted with Japan), and the 2002 Second Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies. The Republic of Korea maintains diplomatic relations with more than 170 countries and a broad network of trading relationships. The United States and Korea are allied by the 1954 Mutual Defense Treaty. Korea and Japan coordinate closely on numerous issues. This includes consultations with the United States on North Korea policy. Economic considerations have a high priority in Korean foreign policy. The R.O.K. seeks to build on its economic accomplishments to increase its Korean Peninsula: Reunification and Recent DevelopmentsSince the 1950-53 Korean War, relations between North and South Korea have been strained. Official contact did not occur until in 1971, beginning with Red Cross contacts and family reunification projects. However, divergent positions on the process of reunification, North Korean weapons programs, and South Korea's tumultuous domestic politics contributed to a cycle of warming and cooling of relations between North and South. Relations improved following the 1997 election of Kim Dae-jung. His "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea, coupled with a $500 million payment to the D.P.R.K., set the stage for the historic June 2000 inter-Korean summit. President Kim was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for the policy, but the prize was somewhat tarnished by revelations of the massive payoff to North Korea that immediately preceded the summit. Relations have again become tense following the October 2002 North Korean admission of a covert highlyenriched uranium program. Following this admission, the United States, along with the People's Republic of China, proposed multilateral talks among the concerned parties to deal with this issue. Under pressure from China and its neighbors, the D.P.R.K. agreed to meet with China and the United States in April 2003 and again in August 2003 in six-party talks that added the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Russia to the table. In October 2003, President Bush announced his willingness to document multilateral security assurances with the D.P.R.K., leading to discussion of a second round of six-party talks. On February 25, 2004 and June 23, 2004, all six parties sat down in Beijing for second and third rounds of talks aimed at the complete, verifiable, and irreversible elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons programs. U.S.-KOREAN RELATIONSThe United States believes that the question of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula is, first and foremost, a matter for the Korean people to decide. In the 1954 U.S.-R.O.K. Mutual Defense Treaty, the United States agreed to help the Republic of Korea defend itself against external aggression. In support of this commitment, the United States currently maintains approximately 37,000 service personnel in Korea, including the Army's Second Infantry Division and several Air Force tactical squadrons. To coordinate operations between these units and the 650,000-strong Korean armed forces, a Combined Forces Command (CFC) was established in 1978. The head of the CFC also serves as Commander of the United Nations Command (UNC) and the U.S. Forces in Korea (USFK). Several aspects of the security relationship are changing as the U.S. moves from a leading to a supporting role. On December 1, 1994, peacetime operational control authority over all South Korean military units still under U.S. operational control was transferred to the South Korean Armed Forces. An agreement has been reached concerning the return of the Yongsan base in the heart of Seoul—as well as a number of other U.S. bases—to the R.O.K. and the relocation of most U.S. forces south of the Han River. As Korea's economy has developed, trade has become an increasingly important aspect of the U.S.-Korea relationship. The U.S. seeks to improve access to Korea's expanding market and increase investment opportunities for American business. The implementation of structural reforms contained in the IMF's 1998 program for Korea improved access to the Korean market, although a range of serious sectoral and structural barriers still remain. Korean leaders appear determined to successfully manage the complex economic relationship with the United States and to take a more active role in international economic fora as befits Korea's status as a major trading nation. Principal U.S. Embassy OfficialsSEOUL (E) Address: 32 Sejongno, Jongno-gu; APO/FPO: U.S. Embassy Seoul, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550; Phone: (82-2) 397-4000; Fax: (82) (2) 738-8845; Workweek: 8:30-5:00; Website: www.usembassy.state.gov/seoul
Additional ResourcesThe following general country guides are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402: Library of Congress. North Korea: A Country Study. 1994. Internet Resources on North and South KoreaThe following sites are provided to give an indication of Internet sites on Korea. The Department of State does not endorse unofficial publications, including Internet sites. R.O.K. Embassy—http://www.koreaembassyusa.org/ TRAVELConsular Information SheetDecember 14, 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. The Seoul Help Center (SHC) assists foreigners with an English speaking help line (02) 731-6802. The SHC is located in the Seoul City Hall and open from 9:30 – 12:30, 14:30 – 17:30. Read the Department of State Background Notes on South Korea for additional information. Entry/Exit Requirements: A passport is required. U.S. 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 plan to stay longer than the period authorized must apply to Korean immigration for an extension in advance. 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. 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 but may be obtained at a Korean Embassy or Consulate after departing Korea. 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 offduty travel elsewhere in Asia. DOD travelers should consult the DOD Foreign Clearance Guide before leaving the U.S. 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 is likely to be prevented from departing Korea. For information on entry requirements for the Republic of Korea and other countries, see our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure or contact the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea at 2450 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 939-5660 or visit 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. 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. The dispatch of Korean troops to Iraq raises the potential for terrorist and violent actions against Korean and US government facilities and personnel in Korea. Moreover, the Department of State remains concerned by indications that al-Qaida continues to prepare to strike US interests both domestically and overseas. Terrorist actions may include suicide operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings. These may involve aviation and other transportation and Several demonstrations occurred in 2004 with participants protesting either for or against labor accords, the impeachment of the Korean President, the war in Iraq and the Republic of Korea's decision to send troops to Iraq. While political, labor, and student demonstrations and marches have on occasion become confrontational and/or violent, the majority of these demonstrations were not violent in nature. Nevertheless, 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. Up-to-date information of safety and 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). Crime: Although the crime rate in the Republic of Korea is low, there is a higher incidence of pickpocketing, purse snatching, assaults, hotel room burglaries, and residential crime in major metropolitan areas, such as Seoul and Busan, than elsewhere in Korea. U.S. citizens are more likely to be targeted in known tourist areas, like Itaewon and other large market areas. Incidents of rape have been reported 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. 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. Information for Victims of Crime: 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 abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the U.S. Embassy. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. The Embassy staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and to learn 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 provide a list of attorneys, if needed. See our information on Victims of Crime at http://travel.state.gov/travel/brochure_victim_assistance.html. Medical Facilities and Health Information: Hospitals in Korea are generally well-equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. High quality general and specialty dental care is available in Seoul. Western-style medical facilities are available in major urban areas of Seoul, Pusan, Daegu, and a few other large cities. However, not all doctors and staff in these major urban areas are proficient in English. Most clinics in rural areas do not have an English-speaking doctor. 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/ or http://www.asktheconsul.org. Pharmacies are first-rate and most prescribed medications, except psychotropic medications, can be obtained with a prescription. Prescriptions are required to buy most medications. Travelers taking any psychotropic or controlled medications should bring a sufficient supply as well as a copy of the prescription for the Korean custom clearance at the airport. Korean ambulances do not carry sophisticated medical equipment, and the ambulance personnel do not have the same level of emergency medical training as in the U.S. However, ambulances operated by the fire department (dial 119) will respond very quickly and take patients to the nearest hospital. SOS International in Korea is located in Seoul (tel: 02-790-7562, website: http://www.internationalsos.co.kr). 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 the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith. 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. Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: Although the Republic of Korea's roads are well paved, traffic lights function and most drivers comply with basic traffic laws, the Republic of Korea has a significantly higher traffic fatality rate than does the United States. Causes of accidents Traffic laws in the Republic of Korea differ from traffic laws in the United States in some respects. Left-hand turns are generally prohibited except where a green arrow indicates otherwise. 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: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of the Republic of Korea as being in compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards for oversight of Korea's air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's internet web site at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.cfm. Customs Regulations: Persons traveling to/from Korea or transiting Korea to/from other countries should be aware that the Republic of Korea's 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, as well as books, other printed material, videos 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. Specific information regarding customs requirements for the Republic of Korea is at the Korea Customs Service web site http://www.customs.go.kr/eng/ or contacting the Republic of Korea's embassy or consulates in the United States. Dual Nationality: 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 emigrated) 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 Korea 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 that they had been entered on the Family Census Register and were considered Korean citizens. Passport Seizures/Exit Bans and Commercial Disputes: The Government of the Republic of Korea sometimes seizes the passports and blocks departure from Korea 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 teach, model or work for a company (part-time or fulltime, 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. Teaching English: The U.S. Embassy in Seoul receives many complaints from U.S. citizens who enter the Republic of Korea to teach English at private language schools ("hagwons"). 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 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 from Korea in an emergency. 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. 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 offences. Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Persons violating Korean laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in the Republic of Korea are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines Children's Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family/index.html. Registration/Embassy Location: Americans living in or visiting the Republic of Korea are encouraged to register on the Internet through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, or http://www.asktheconsul.org/ 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. The U.S. Embassy street address is 32 Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 110-710. The APO address is Unit 15550, APO, AP 96205-5550. Telephone (82-2) 397-4114; fax (82-2) 397-4101. The web page for the U.S. Embassy in Seoul can be found at http://usembassy.state.gov/seoul. |
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