Embassy of the United States Seoul Korea

Death of a U.S. Citizen

Providing assistance to families of U.S. citizens who have died overseas is one of the Embassy’s most important and solemn responsibilities.  When a death occurs overseas, the experience is traumatic for loved ones, causing not only normal feelings of grief, but possibly anxiety over the distance from the deceased and frustration over the difficulties of getting things done in a foreign land. 

After receiving word of the death of an American citizen in Korea, the Embassy is responsible for notifying their next of kin, if they are not already informed. We can also assist the family with:

• understanding their options and navigating local regulations
• making arrangements for disposition of the remains
• serving as conservator of the estate when the next of kin is not in Korea
• overseeing the disposition of the remains
• preparing and sending the next of kin signed copies of the Consular Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad to help them settle legal and estate matters in the United States. This document is in English and is based on the local death certificate.

Any death of an American citizen should be reported immediately to the local police and to the Embassy. Please call: 397-4114 from commercial lines or 721-4114 from U.S. military lines.

When reporting the death of a U.S. citizen, please let us know the deceased person’s complete name, date and place of birth, passport number, date and place of death, cause of death and location of the remains. We also need the full name and address of the next of kin if available. The attached form (PDF-57.22KB) can be used as a guide to the information we need to assist the family of the deceased.

Information about consular assistance when an American citizen has died abroad.