COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR STAFFDEL HYUN -

UNCLAS SEOUL 000194 SENSITIVE SIPDIS H FOR T.LONON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OREP OTRA AMGT ASEC KS SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR STAFFDEL HYUN - FEBRUARY 13-22, 2009 REF: SECSTATE 09602 ¶1. (U) Embassy Seoul welcomes and grants country clearance to Karen Hyun, Professional Staff Member for her official visit to South Korea, February 13-22, 2009. The purpose of the visit is to participate in the Fifth Inter-Governmental Meeting on Management of High-Seas Fisheries in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. CONTACT INFORMATION -------------- ¶2. (U) Point of contact for the visit: James Waller (Seoul) 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) Unclassified email: WallerJM@state.gov Tyler Allen (Busan) Office telephone: (82)(51) 863-0731 Cell phone: (82)(51) 741-5138 Fax number: (82)(51) 863-0734 (unclassified) Unclassified email: AllenTT2@state.gov LODGING -------------- ¶3. (U) The Embassy has reserved a room within per diem at the Lotte Hotel Busan for February 14-20 and at the Lotte Hotel Seoul for February 20-22, 2009. Breakfast, access to the executive lounge and gym is included. Cancellation policy is 24 hours prior to arrival to avoid a one-night penalty. Lotte Hotel Busan (Confirmation No.: 80138400-02) 503-15 Bujeon-dong Busanjin-gu Busan 614-030 South Korea Tel: (82)(51) 810-1000 Fax: (82)(51) 810-5110 Lotte Hotel Seoul (Confirmation No.: 10190415-01) 1 Sogong-dong, Jung-gu Seoul 100-070 South Korea Tel: (82)(2) 771-1000 Fax: (82)(2) 752-3758 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) An embassy official will meet you at the arrival gate during your transit through Incheon International Airport. Upon your arrival in Gimhae Airport (Busan) you will be met at the gate by an embassy expeditor who will assist you through customs and immigration. Transportation will be provided to the hotel. 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 area. 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