Embassy of the United States Seoul Korea

Administrative Section

The Embassy's Administrative Section provides all logistical and resource support for the Mission. The section is headed by the Minister-Counselor of Embassy for Administrative Affairs, whose office is located on the chancery's fourth floor. The section is made up of the Community Liaison Office, the Financial Management Center, the General Services Office, the Health Unit, the Human Resources Office and the Information Management Office.

• Community Liaison Office (CLO)
  Elizabeth A. Fabis
  CLO provides information and support for newcomers prior to and after their arrival at post, helping to ease the transition to Seoul. The office provides orientation, organizes community events, manages the summer hire program, maintains liaison with local schools, assists spouses seeking employment, provides guidance on sponsoring household staff, serves as a resource for local information and publishes the post newsletter, "The Chosun Word". Chancery, 4th floor
  
  
• Financial Management Center (FMC)
  Donald C. Shaw
  FMC processes travel and other vouchers, makes allowance payments, provides check cashing and currency exchange services and various payroll services. Chancery, 4th floor
  
  
• General Services Office (GSO)
  Judith H. Semilota
  GSO is responsible for all aspects of housing, furnishings, supplies, vehicle registration and plates, maintenance of residential and office spaces, motor pool support, purchasing/contracting, shipping and customs, VIP visit logistics as well as other services. Yongsan GSO Compound
  
  
• Health Unit (HU)
  Robert J. Lorinser
  The health unit provides basic medical care and refers those needing additional care or specialized services to various medical and dental professionals both on the military base and around Seoul. Chancery, 4th floor
  
  
• Human Resources Office (HRO)
  James L. Zix 
  HR provides benefits processing (TSP, FEGLI, FEHB), bidding assistance, career and other counseling, assistance with pay and other HR-related problems, processing of work permits for spouses, assistance with Korean visas, official diplomatic registration, travel orders, processing of driver's license, Employee Evaluation Reports and awards, recruiting, hiring and support of FSN employees, and other services. Chancery, 4th floor
  
  
• Information Management Office (IMO)
  Bruce R. Begnell
  Classified and unclassified communications and automated data processing services, telephone and internet services, mail and pouch services, and radio network services. Coordinates systems throughout the Mission and is responsible for coordinating Information Systems procurement. Chancery, 4th and 7th floors

Agricultural Affairs Office (AAO)
Kathryn M. Ting, Minister-Counselor

The Agricultural Affairs Office (AAO) of the American Embassy in Seoul represents the interests of American agriculture and agribusiness in the Republic of Korea. Activities of the office include market research and analysis, market development, and market access. AAO helps identify—and works to reduce—foreign trade barriers and other practices and policies that hinder U.S. agricultural exports.


Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Scott Saxe, Area Director
APHIS webpage

The mission of APHIS overseas is to provide internationally-based animal and plant health expertise that enhances USDA's capacity to safeguard American agriculture and promote agricultural trade.


Agricultural Trade Office (ATO)
Michael J. Fay
ATO webpage

The U.S. Agricultural Trade Office (ATO)in Seoul is staffed by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The primary role of the ATO is to expand and maintain foreign markets for U.S. agricultural, fishery, and forestry exports. It serves as the primary liaison between U.S. agricultural suppliers and Korean buyers. The ATO organizes trade shows, trade missions and other promotional events for the retail, hotel and restaurant industries. It provides trade servicing, market and product information.

Commercial Section
James Sullivan
Commercial Section webpage

The U.S. Commercial Service Korea office (CS Korea) is part of the worldwide network of U.S. Department of Commerce offices located in more than 120 cities in 80 countries, and in over 100 locations in the United States. Our mission is to support the commercial interests of the United States and to help U.S. companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, increase sales and market share in Korea.

Consular Section
Paul L. Boyd, Minister-Counselor

The Consular Section is composed of three branches, described below:

• American Citizen Services (ACS):
  ACS is part of the Embassy's consular section. We provide assistance to U.S. citizens in Korea, including passport services, notarials, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, documentation for marriage, voting in U.S. elections, various federal benefits and more. In addition, ACS assists U.S. citizens in emergency situations, including arrests, deaths and crisis situations.
  
  ACS Hours of Operation by appointment:
  8:45 - 11:15 a.m. Monday through Friday
  1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Monday to Friday except Wednesday
  
  Please see the ACS information on this web site for more information. In the event of an emergency, please call the Embassy switchboard at +82-(0)2-397-4114.
• Immigrant Visa Branch (IV)
  Applicants are seen by appointment only.
  Please see the IV information on this web site for further information on application requirements and procedures.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Branch (NIV)
  Please see the NIV information on this web site for details.

Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Taekuk Cho (HSI Attaché)

HSI is a Federal Law Enforcement Agency and the primary investigative arm for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Charged with the investigation and enforcement of over 400 federal statutes, HSI Special Agents use their broad authority to conduct complex criminal investigations aimed at protecting U.S. national security and critical infrastructure which may be vulnerable to sabotage, attack or exploitation. Working in conjunction with Korean Law Enforcement Authorities to investigate and combat major criminal offenses between Korea and the United States, HSI Special Agents investigate violations which may include: anti-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, arms trafficking, cyber crime, counter-proliferation and illegal technology transfer, drug trafficking, money laundering, bulk cash smuggling, and other financial crimes, transnational organized crime, gangs, human trafficking and smuggling, child pornography, exploitation of children, theft of intellectual property rights, theft of cultural property and antiquities, visa fraud, and other customs and immigration related violations.

- HSI webpage
- IPR Center

Defense Attaché Office
COL David M. Lovejoy

The Defense Attaché Office is located on the seventh floor of the American Embassy. The office is currently comprised of three principal service attaches, two assistant service attaches, one civilian attaché, one operations coordinator, three operations NCO's, one U.S. Army enlisted translator, and two FSN positions. Our principal functions are to advise the Ambassador on military and political-military matters, as well as represent the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and military service chiefs to appropriate equivalent officials in Korea.


Drug Enforcement Administration
Edward M. Fiocchi

DEA's primary mission in Seoul is to work cooperatively with other U.S. foreign and Republic of Korea (ROK) law enforcement officials in order to investigate narcotics trafficking and other related activity that directly impacts the United States. This investigative activity includes the identification of criminal organizations responsible for the trafficking of drugs, determination of international smuggling routes and methods being utilized (i.e., courier, shipments, express mail, etc.). The identification of locations where raw drug related products are produced such as poppy and marijuana fields. The identification of laboratories where final illicit drug products are produced such as methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. Investigating the origination and destination of chemical shipments necessary for the final production of illicit drug products; and identifying methods utilized by drug traffickers to conceal or launder their illegal profits.

Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy
Mary E. Tarnowka, Minister-Counselor

The Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy works with the U.S. and other sections, particularly the Commercial Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service, on issues relating to bilateral trade. The Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy has primary responsibility for the financial sector, civil aviation, and fisheries issues, as well as important multilateral issues such as Korea's relations with the OECD, APEC, and the WTO. The section's reporting and analysis focuses on the internal economy, bilateral trade and finance issues, the North Korean economy, and the Republic of Korea's relations with the North.

Open Source Center(OSC)
Mark W. Okiishi

The Open Source Center (OSC) is a government agency that collects, translates, and analyzes information selected from foreign public media sources, for use by U.S. government and military analysts and policy makers. OSC concerns itself with WHAT the foreign public media says and HOW they say it.

Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
John D. Jackson ( CBP Attaché )

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
CBP supports the Embassy with the posting of officers at the Incheon Airport as part of the Immigration Advisory Program (IAP). IAP enhances border security as part of a layered security strategy by preventing high-risk passengers from boarding commercial aircraft destined for the U.S., disrupting alien smuggling and human trafficking air routes, combating the proliferation of fraudulent travel documents, and prevents improperly documented passengers from traveling to the U.S. Passengers arriving from IAP locations still undergo full CBP processing upon arrival.
CBP officers are also posted at the Port of Busan working with the Korean Customs Service on the Container Security Initiative (CSI). CSI is a program intended to help increase security for containerized cargo shipped to the United States from around the world. CSI addresses the threat to border security and global trade posed by the potential for terrorist use of a maritime container to deliver a weapon.
CBP Seoul Office is open to the public on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. We are closed on all U.S. and Korean holidays.
General inquiries regarding U.S. Customs, U.S. Travel Document requirement and, appointment for public window session can be made via e-mail
Official Website


Department of Homeland Security - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS-CIS)
Walter L. Haith

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a component of the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY tasked with the overall administration and enforcement of immigration benefits under the United States Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The USCIS Seoul Office’s area of responsibility is Korea and Japan. USCIS services both military and civilians. Citizens, as well as U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents who are in Korea or Japan and wish to petition/sponsor family members to immigrate to the United States. The USCIS Seoul Office also responds to other immigration related inquiries and adjudicate immigration applications/petitions relating to adoption, refugee(s), and visa waivers. The USCIS Seoul Field Office conducts military naturalization interviews in Korea and Japan. Each year, the USCIS Seoul Office naturalizes approximately 600 Military members (and family members) as U.S. citizens.
USCIS works very closely with the Consular Section in reviewing cases for visa issuance. The other aspect of USCIS is to conduct local investigations of cases relating to petition applications which have been filed at our stateside offices, and enforcing activities relating to INA. The USCIS priority is to ensure that the proper immigration benefit is given to the right individuals; and not to lose focus of national security, or compromise quality or integrity.

Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group-Korea (JUSMAG-K)
COL Dong Ha

JUSMAG-K’s mission is to support the Republic of Korea Government in the modernization and sustainability of its armed forces and work with the defense community towards a mutually beneficial armaments cooperation program. To accomplish this mission, JUSMAG-K works with Korean civil and military institutions as well as the Korean defense community in support of the sale and sustainment of US equipment, services, supplies, and training to the ROK. JUSMAG-K is an integral part of the U.S. Country Team directly under the Ambassador and reports directly to the U.S. Pacific Command, as its military chain of command. JUSMAG-K has six directorates: Policy, Operations, Training and Liaison Directorate, Army Programs Directorate, Navy/Marine Corps Programs Directorate, Air Force Programs Directorate, Defense Cooperation in Armaments Programs Directorate, and External Coordination Directorate.

Political Section
Ed Dong, Minister-Counselor

The political section is responsible for the conduct of the security, defense and alliance aspects of U.S.-Korean bilateral relations. The section's staff monitors domestic political developments and serves as the Embassy's primary contacts with the National Assembly, political parties and provincial governments. They also monitor developments in North Korea and North Korean relations with other countries.

Public Affairs (PA)
Brent D. Byers, Minister-Counselor
Public Affairs Section webpage

The Public Affairs (PA) section is the press, cultural and education section of the Embassy. PA is responsible for the Embassy's media relations and for a variety of cultural, information and exchange programs. They handle press inquiries, requests for interviews, and press releases and other Embassy statements. The Cultural Affairs office sponsors speakers, seminars and exchanges. The Regional Program Office (RPO) promotes mutual understanding in the areas of Korea outside the capital. The RPO staff engages opinion leaders in academia, media, politics, and the arts, as well as the general public, by organizing lectures, seminars, press events, and artistic performances. American Center is the U.S. Embassy's reference and research service. American Center provides specialized, substantive, and accurate information about the United States to Korean institutions and professionals. Materials in the American Center site cover almost all subjects about the United States, its policies, society, and culture. The American Center is open to the public from 09:00-6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Regional Security Office
Brendan M. Murray

The Regional Security Office (RSO) is a component of the Department of State tasked with the overall security of people, property and information for the American Embassy. The Security team at the Embassy Seoul is comprised of direct hire Special Agents/Regional Security Officers (RSO's), a Security Engineering Office, Office Management Specialist, Marine Security Guard (MSG) Detachment, Foreign Service National Investigators (FSNI) and Local Guards.

Seoul Regional Diplomatic Courier Hub (SRDCH)
Larry O. Hubbard

The Seoul Diplomatic Courier Hub is made up of four traveling Diplomatic Couriers and one desk officer working in Seoul. Our mission consists of delivering classified material to 14 Regional Posts in the Far East. Our classified deliveries take us weekly to Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Washington & Bangkok. Other less frequent trips are made to Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenyang, & Guangzhou, China, along with Vladivostok, Russia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and all the consulates in Japan.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Days: Monday through Friday

Hours: 8:30AM - 5:00 PM

The American Embassy offices are closed on American
and Korean holidays.

Last Updated: June 2012

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