For too many expatriates the answer is “no”. Although it is not imperative to register with Embassies in an expat land, it is always a prudent thing to do. After, all the Embassy is the intermediary connection point between the expatriate and the home land in crisis situations.
South Korea is a land that easily lulls people into a secure frame of mind. Crime is low, amenities are plentiful and living, while not familiar, can be easy. A short visit north to the DMZ, however, will soon plant a seed of uneasiness in anyone’s mind. The simple fact of the matter is that North and South Korea are still at war and there are missiles, a lot of missiles, pointing at Seoul.
Throw in the fact that Seoul is plagued by demonstrations, some quite violent, and it doesn’t take a college degree to figure that there is a possibility, however slim, of trouble. In times of strife in a foreign land the only sanctuary and support that can be expected from expatriates is from their embassy, and if they’re not registered the embassy doesn’t know they exist, much less how to contact them.
Those who have seen “The Killing Fields” may have some appreciation of what this may mean.
The main purpose of embassies, however, is not to provide a place of refuge in times of strife but to perform certain functions as representatives of their government. As such they do serve their expatriate community in matters concerning passports, notarization, issuance of certificates, travel advice/warnings, visa advice, and immigration and labor issues.
Furthermore in a land such as South Korea where the language barrier is significant the embassies, while they cannot act on someone’s behalf, can often point people in the right direction.
Finally, the embassy can be that crucial first port of call in making contact with one’s own expatriate community. Why not pay them a visit?
Foreign embassies in South Korea
Embassy Name, Address, Zip-Code (Postcode), Telephone, Fax, Opening Hours
Australia, 11th Floor Kyobo Bldg, 1, Chongro-1-ga, Chongro-gu, Seoul, 110-714, 8227306490, 8227209932, Operating Hours: 9am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-5pm Monday-Friday
Austria, 1913, 19th FI., Kyobo bldg., Chongro 1-ga, Chongro-Gu, Seoul, 110-714, 8227329071, 8227329486, Operating Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday
Belgium, 1-94 Donbinggo-dong, Yongsan-Gu, Seoul, 140-230, 8227490381, 8227971688, Operating Hours: 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm Monday-Friday
Canada, 10 th Floor, Kolon Building, 45 Mugyo-dong, Chung-Gu, Seoul, 100-170, 82234556000, 8227550686, Operating Hours: 8:30am-11:45am, 12:45pm-4:30pm Monday-Friday
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