COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EAP A/S HILL AND SPECIAL

UNCLAS SEOUL 000329 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OVIP PREL AMGT KS SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EAP A/S HILL AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT GIBBONS REF: STATE 13177 ¶1. (U) Embassy Seoul warmly welcomes and grants country clearance for the February 3-5, 2007 official visit to Seoul by EAP A/S Christopher R. Hill and Special Assistant Thomas ¶B. Gibbons. CONTACT INFORMATION -------------- ¶2. (U) Control officer for the visit is Political External Chief Brian McFeeters: Office telephone: (82)(2) 397-4133 Embassy operator: (82)(2) 397-4114 then press "0" Cell phone: (82)(10) 9020-4133 Fax number: (82)(2) 733-4791 nclassified email: McfeetersBD@state.gov SIPRNet email: McfeetersBD@state.sgov.gov LODGING -------------- ¶3. (U) The Ambassador welcomes A/S Hill and S/A Gibbons to stay at the Ambassador's Residence. TRAVELERS NOTE -------------- ¶4. (U) All official travelers must possess a Korean visa to enter the country. Travelers may contact the nearest Korean consulate/embassy to obtain a visa. ¶5. (U) An airport tax of KRW27,000 (approximately USD27) is usually included in the cost of the ticket. Upon departure, diplomatic passport holders may claim reimbursement at the tax refund center located near the duty-free shops beyond the security check area. TRANSPORTATION -------------- ¶6. (U) A/S Hill and S/A Gibbons will be met at the airport by Control Officer and Expeditor. CELL PHONES -------------- ¶7. (U) Please be advised that not all cell phones work in Korea. Travelers must first check with their service provider. Blackberrys are likewise unusable in Korea. THREAT ADVISORY -------------- ¶8. (U) Americans in Seoul are subject to worldwide threat from international terrorists, although we have no information to suggest any specific terrorists threats directed at Americans here. Political demonstrations occur frequently in Seoul, and are occasionally anti-American. Americans can minimize personal risk by staying away from demonstrations and by avoiding confrontation or altercations with protesters. While relatively infrequent by U.S. standards, street crime does occur. Most reported crimes involve pickpocketing in tourist areas and are predominantly non-violent in nature. The security precautions a person would take in any large city are appropriate throughout South Korea. Police are considered capable and well trained. Seoul metropolitan authorities staff English-speaking personnel 24 hours daily to handle local emergencies. Telephone numbers are as follows: 112 police emergency, 119 fire & ambulance. ¶9. (SBU) One must assume that hotel rooms, telephones, cellular phones, and fax machines may be monitored. Official travelers should ensure that hard-copy and electronic sensitive information is not left in hotel rooms. As a precautionary measure, visitors are advised NOT to discuss sensitive or classified information in uncontrolled areas. Computers, to include laptops and PDAs, are NOT allowed in the Embassy except with prior clearance/permission from the RSO office. OTHER INFO -------------- ¶10. (U) For comprehensive information on South and North Korean politics and economies, please reference the Embassy's new classified website at http://www.state.sgov.gov. VERSHBOW