KOREA COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR JEAN SLUTSKY

UNCLAS SEOUL 002072 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBI KSCA OTRA KN KS SUBJECT: KOREA COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR JEAN SLUTSKY REF: SECSTATE 111581 ¶1. (U) Embassy Seoul welcomes and grants country clearance to Jean Slutsky, Director, Center for Outcomes and Evidence, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Public Health Service for her official visit to South Korea on the dates of November 8-13, 2008. The purpose of the visit is to participate in a plenary session and workshop at the Korea-U.S. International Symposium. CONTACT INFORMATION -------------- ¶2. (U) Point of contact for the visit is Economic/EST Officer James Waller. Office telephone: (82)(2) 397-4159 Embassy operator (82)(2) 397-4114 then press "0" Cell phone: (82)(11) 660-4159 Fax number: (82)(2) 397-4431 Unclassified email: WallerJM@state.gov LODGING -------------- ¶3. (U) Embassy understands that traveler has made own lodging arrangements. TRANSPORTATION -------------- ¶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) There is a departure tax of 27,000 won for all non-diplomatic passport holders. For travelers on diplomatic passports, the departure tax should have been added to your ticket by your travel office. If your travel office has already added the tax to the price of your tickets you can pick up a refund when leaving Korea. After going through immigration look for the tax refund kiosk (one is located near Gate 28) and present your passport and tickets for a cash refund. ¶6. (U) NOTE: If traveler wishes the Embassy to provide transportation to and from meetings, please provide the appropriate fund cite. If no fund cite is available, then the traveler will provide his own transportation to and from meetings. PORTABLE COMPUTER DEVICES -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Personal computers may not enter Department of State facilities. Personnel bringing official devices must advise the Regional Security Office and Information Systems Security Office (ext. 4244/4151),prior to bringing the equipment into the Embassy. THREAT ASSESSMENT -------------- ¶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 protestors. While relatively infrequent by U.S. standards, street crime does occur. Most reported crimes involve pick-pocketing 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. ¶9. (SBU) As a matter of prudence, you must assume that all rooms, telephones, cellular phones, and fax machines can be monitored. You should not discuss sensitive or classified information in uncontrolled areas. Official travelers should ensure that hard-copy and electronic sensitive information is not left in hotel rooms. Computers, including laptops and Personal Digital Assistants, cannot be brought into the Embassy except with prior permission from the RSO office. ¶10. (U) 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 and ambulance. STEPHENS