Consulate General of The Republic of Korea

Today, I called the Korean Consulate General as I had a question about reporting the loss of citizenship, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the kindness and detailed explanation of Jung Seung-Myong during the consultation. Los Angeles, CA

Not sure if this is new, but they have a passport photo machine inside the consulate that you can use for free. I paid $ 15 for two photos across the street from the consulate (they were efficient and knew the exact requirements forbthe photo) — I wish I had known about the photo machine! I could have used the $ 15 dollars to buy some kimbap.
Someone told me that the copying machines are free, despite the $ 0.25/copy sign.
Also, the consulate accepts cash or check only.

They don’t accept calls but the place is easy to find and has free parking. Bring all necessary documents and copies in case. Passport is a must! Full out your visa form beforehand but if you have questions about filling it out, they are helpful. I was in & out in about 15 minutes. My visa will be ready on Thursday and I came in on a Friday so it’s 5 business days to process.

I’ve not been able to find ANY comprehensive information about what to bring in to apply for the E2 visa (teaching English) at this particular consulate, and the documents needed seem to be different than they were when the last review for the E2 was written in 2014… so here’s what I needed:
1) Application form (a single-​page application with the space for the Confirmation of Visa Issuance No. at the top: you just have to have this number filled in, you do not need the actual certificate)
2) passport
3) photocopy of info/​signature pages of passport
4) consulate checklist (just google «Korean Consulate Checklist,» it’s a two-​page form)
5) 1 passport photo
6) $ 45 (cash or check, they don’t have change so bring exact amount)
I got there around 09:30 on a Tuesday morning and waited about 10 minutes for my number to be called. Since I didn’t know that I needed a photocopy of my passport, I had to make that there. There were signs all over the copier that said it wasn’t free but the guy in line in front of me walked right up to it and used it without paying, so I did, too, and it worked, but we were possibly just freeloading on someone who’d gone before. Either way, I’d have quarters on you, since it seems to cost 25 cents.
They give validation for parking. You just have to stamp the ticket the lot attendant gives you at the counter when you’re being helped. You’ll see the little signs above the ink pads.
People there were polite and helpful. The security guard asked me if I’d been there before when I got there and when I told him no he pointed me to a lady who told me to take a number to wait after she saw I already had my visa form. I drew a number and waited just a little while. Then the lady at the visa window was patient when I clearly had no idea what to do and repeated after her just to make sure because I couldn’t hear her well…
I think they’re efficient and polite enough; one thing I will say is that I’m clearly not Korean in appearance and so they probably just assumed I wouldn’t know anything, but I heard someone who came in after me who is ethnically Korean but American having a kind of hard time getting people to speak with her in English…
The exit is on the far side of the room, not the way you came in! I tried to go out the entrance but the security guard was nice enough to make sure I had stamped my parking ticket before telling me I had to use the other door.
The only reason I can’t give them a ⁵⁄₅ is because I tried to call them beforehand to see what I’d need to bring with me and first time, even though it’s a recording, it disconnected my call after saying hello in Korean and then I had to call back at least five times to get to the right place in the recording (because it kept disconnecting) to see what I’d need to bring… then the recording was so low quality that I couldn’t understand it at all and ended up being as clueless as before, since their website doesn’t tell you either (for E2 visas, at least, though it seems to be clear about what you need for a long-​term tourist visa). So this review is in hopes that you have an easier time finding out what to bring with you!

I was try call to find information but
Phone need record what i need. Never return since 2 month now ???

none of the reviews and online posts that I found helped me with renewal of my korean passport so I’m gonna try to be as detailed as possible about the process and things you might need from my recent trip to the korean consulate
things you need:
1. old expired passport
2. two passport photos (they are pretty strict with these… my sister got her’s done at costco and i got mine at a local photo studio and we both didn’t get them approved so we had to go across the street to get new ones done. the problem was that our ears weren’t showing and hair wasn’t tucked back enough. If you want to just get it done across the street, they know exactly which photos get approved and you can get yours done for $ 10 + tip AND they give you 4 copies. forgot what the studio name was but it’s literally across the street)
3. a photocopy of your passport
4. green card
5. a photocopy of your green card (front and back — if your numbers happen to show in the back)
6. application (it’s inside the consulate, mine was all in korean and when I tried to look for a copy online to prepare myself, I couldn’t find any but it’s pretty much all the information you can find on your passport and greencard)
7. $ 20 cash for USPS express shipping cost if you want your’s delivered rather than to pick it up yourself.
8. $ 53 cash/​check if you want 48 pages for your passport, $ 50 cash/​check if you want 24 pages (these are the costs for over 18 years of age)
*there is a copy machine inside. 25 cents for a copy which only takes quarters. there is a machine that gives you change if you put in a dollar but don’t rely on it because it wasn’t working when I tried to use it so I had to borrow a quarter from a random stranger.
I arrived at the consulate office at 12pm, which is their lunch hour but the office only has half of the employees due to half of them being gone for lunch, which makes the waiting time longer but I think passport renewal line is pretty fast (separate from other services). I got my number called as I was still filling out my application, so it was moving pretty quickly. The lady did take awhile with my application process though. may be 15−20min?)
there are parking lots all around, I parked near Denny’s I think and it was $ 3 (meter) for all day but I know there’s one closer to the office that you can get a validation from the office.
the lady said it should take 4 weeks for my new passport to arrive. It does say 2 – 3 weeks on paper but i think she just added 1 more week for usps delivery.
hope this is helpful to some of you! overall it was a smooth and easy process.

I’m seriously grateful to one of the workers here, Irene. I’m studying abroad soon in Korea, and as a Korean-​American, I have to go through a different process to meet requirements. Irene was so helpful and eased the whole process. There was a line of people waiting after me, but she took the time to explain what I was signing, and so on. On my second (and last) visit, I had a paper to fill out, and I believe I came in right when she was about to take her lunch break. Instead of making me wait for an hour, she helped me out, and I was out through the door quickly.

Gotta get your E2 VISA? You’re gonna need…
01. Application form (Just Google it, download it, print it, and fill it!)
02. Your passport
03. ONE passport photo
04. $ 45
AND THATS IT! No need to even call and make an appointment; its first come, first served.
The two times I’ve been here, I didn’t have to wait. Then again, I arrived right when they open their doors at 9 AM ’cause I’m super proactive like that! There is a small parking lot right next to it which is free with validation (yay!). My VISA was good ‘n ready to go on the exact date they said it was going to be. Yeah, so the staff is a bit on the stoic, quiet side, but its not like you give their customer service a rating, nor do you tip them, or buy them a beer afterwards, so as long as they’re efficient and get the job done, what more d’ya need?
Bottom line: Just come prepared, and you’re sure to have pleasant trip.

Excellent service by the staff, clean, organized. The parking is free after validation. The staff are very polite and helpful.

I visit Korea consulate in order to renew my Korean passport.
As an international student, i prepared original passport, Visa, I-94,I-20 and the copies of them.
The workers there are not super nice but there are nice.
Importantly, fast process!
It didnt take long time to make a process.
Less than 30minutes!
She told me it will take 2weeks to get back my new passport :)
btw do not use the restroom inside the consulate.
it’s…unclean…

I have to laugh at the other reviews… because obviously while living in the US they have forgotten their native culture. I am not Korean. I do have Korean family, and I have been there several times. I love Korea. But to truly love it, you must be educated about their way of communicating and doing business.
1. They are efficient. COME PREPARED. If you are not prepared, how sad. This is maybe one of the most important items in your life — passport, etc. and you are not prepared? Shame on you.
2. «oh, they are so rude and don’t smile». Should they? Why? They are not the actress wannabe across the street serving you coffee with stiff foam. They are here to do official business and move along. That you want a smile is bad — give them a smile and don’t be stupid. This is the same with any government office.
3. Don’t wait till the last minute. If I need to explain then you have no right to complain.
I took my friend here — she was prepared, plenty of time, she walked in, waited patiently like everyone else, got her info, walked out. That’s it.
This place was clean and efficient.

My first visit to a consulate of any kind, I came to the Korean Consulate to apply for a visa to teach English. I arrived around 1130 on Thursday. I was number 55 and only waited about 15 minutes. I came up with a bunch of documents I had hoped would be correct because I couldn’t find the correct information online. Luckily, the only thing I needed was my application, the Consule checklist and my passport. Paid $ 45 and it will be ready on Tuesday after the holiday weekend. Pretty painless!

I recently visited here to get a new passport. It was much better than I expected because I thought I have to repeat the same awful experience I had 5 years ago. Back then, I had no idea how to apply for a passport and didn’t know how rotten this place was. When I arrived here, I realized that I made a mistake of bringing passport photos larger than specified. To get new photos, I was going to take photos at a photoshop across the street but when I asked ajussi at the entrace, he told me to just trim the sides with scissors. I did this thinking it would be fine. When I went to one of the windows, the employee threw the book at me for doing this and for asking some other questions. I don’t think I was acting dumb or trying to be rude. His attitude was like «I can treat you like dirt just because I can. What can you do about it? Can you go some place else to get a passport?».
Fortunately, everything worked out fine this time. I came here twice. Once to get some information and then to submit all documents. The whole process is difficult for first-​timers. Here are some tips:
1. The entrance and exit are different. The exit is at the other side of the building so don’t come back to the entrance when you leave.
2. Koreans don’t have the concept of lining up. If you arrive early before the operating hours, prepare to run to the entrance when the door opens. When you go inside, there are two queue ticket dispensers, one for passport application and another for everything else. Don’t get a wrong ticket.
3. Fill in the application forms «well». I can’t put this in a better word. The forms and instructions are very confusing (e.g. in passport application form, it tells you to fill in sections only inside the boldline and at the bottom left corner, it tells you to write your residential address in the section which isn’t inside the boldline.). If you ask any questions to them, they think you are dumb or talking back (mal-​dae-​ggu/​mal-​dae-​dap) so get as much information as possible in the web and read all the signs on the wall.

I am a patient person and it definitely takes a lot for me to write such a scathing review. That being said, If I could give them zero stars, I would.
I never had a problem with the consulate two years ago when I applied for a student (D-​2) visa. Totally harmless. I got my visa within two days.
Now I’m trying to apply for an F-​4 visa and I swear it’s like every worker’s personal mission to make this process overly complicated.
Within a span of a month, I have been to the consulate in person twice, talked to three different people there, and talked to three different people on the phone. No lie, every employee has told me a different story of what steps to take. Plus, still no visa.
I’ve heard it all from applying for dual citizenship to them «politely» refusing my mother’s papers because Korea is still a «patriarchal» society (do not even get me started on this assbackwards statement).
The workers are incompetent and it’s getting pretty old trying to figure out this visa business without adequate help.
After interacting with many of the employees at the consulate I can safely say that I will dread any other visits I have to make there in the future. To be quite frank, the Korean Consulate General should be embarrassed with how this office is being run.

**Disclaimer: below is the longest review in my Unilocalstory.
I was legitly frightened by this office visit for two full weeks (we Koreans are not the friendliest bunch) before I realized my passport had finally expired. Oh no. This meant I couldn’t go to Korea in January for the upcoming business trip. Me passing on company paid week-​long feast of fresh sashimi, pork belly and kobe galbi on Jeju Island? Can’t let that happen! Food really is the one lasting motivation in my life.
2:00 p.m. It’s Friday, Friday! Crap. It’s the last working day of year 2011. I better get there early so I avoid the rush and mean mugs from staff who want to gtfo. I SO got this.
2:05 p.m. Loungin’ in my jammies. I love loungin’ in my jammies.
2:50 p.m. Wow time flies. Guess I should put some grown up clothes on.
3:05 p.m. YEAH. TAKING WILSHIRE WAS A GREAT IDEA.
3:45 p.m. I’m late again. I hate everyone.
3:50 p.m. Sigh. Parking’s gonna be a b… Oooooooh validated parking lot?! Thank you, kind parking lot attendant!
3:55 p.m. What. There’s a security entrance? Today is not a good day… Wait, the guard is a super nice and gentle ahjuhshee? Thank you, gentle security guard man!
3:56 p.m.
«Jesong habnee dah!»
(«My apologies!» This is key to not getting your head bitten off. Just repeat this over and over. Even the grumpiest Korean lady will calm down.)
…I said, shyly, as I stepped up to the counter (there was no line at this point) and asked to renew my passport. I was told to take an application and fill it out. After a 15 minute phone tag with my relatives in Korea, I finally got the necessary information and took the completed application back to the counter and pulled a number from the machine.
«Yuh gi ro oh seh yo.»
(«Come over here please»)
This is the moment I’ve been dreading for so long. Shaking, I handed over my application, passport, green card and photos. The clerk (who really did resemble my mother) greeted me warmly but didn’t smile. Okay, I can work with that. She spoke to me calmly and gently. She then kindly asked me to go make copies of the documents at the copier behind me. A little shaken up by how nice she was being, I walked to the copier making faces at myself.
Is this real life? No one’s yelling at me for lagging in there 20 minutes after closing? The world is so beautiful right now.
After I brought the copies, the clerk noticed that there was a shadow on my passport photo which the picky Korean government won’t accept. Seeing the horror on my face (thinking I had to come back and do this all over again), she quickly calmed me down by telling me to mail the new photos to the office while she put my application on hold.
Oh. It’s that simple? You’re not going to troll me and demand that I come back and start everything over?
The DMV should train their incompetent jokes here.
4:35 p.m.
After I paid the $ 55 for the passport renewal and $ 15 for mailing service (ask for this option if you prefer this over coming back to pick it up), I was guided step-​by-​step on how to finish the renewal process. She even circled the important information on the paper she provided me with. I was fiddling with the validation ticket when the same guard from the entrance told me to use the stamp in front of me to validate it. So attentive. So kind. So genuine!
«Gamsa hab née dah!»
(«Thank you!»)
I said this a thousand times while exiting, to everyone in the building. I felt a teardrop in my eye when the clerk shouted:
«Ahn nyoung hee gah seh yoh~»
(«Good bye /​have a nice day~»)
Dude. No one does that anymore. Not in K-​town. This is so incredible.
*Tips:
— Closing time is 4:00pm, but the staff wraps up until 5pm. So get your foot in the door by 3:59 and you’re good!
— Fees are payable in cash or check ONLY.
— Bring copies of all your documents and passport beforehand to save time. You’ll get your old passport and originals back.
— Take a number from the machine even if there is no line. The staff will appreciate your patience in contrast to the people who march up to the counter feeling entitled.
— Validate your parking ticket with the stamp at the counter. Stamp twice if you’re in there longer than 30 minutes.
— Yes, I speak fluent Korean, but don’t worry. They’re nice to the foreigners too.
— The mini Korean lessons above can be used appropriately at a booking club as well. You’re welcome.

This place needs some spring cleaning with all of its employees. Everyone there is useless and pretends not to see you. Calling ahead of time doesn’t help, because they will get annoyed with your lack of proper korean and try and brush you off.
I’ve never seen such awful employees in my life. They are unwelcoming, don’t make much eye contact, and hardly smile.
Also, they leave out details about certain stamps you need on your documents, or how old a record can be before it’s invalid. This is important info since many people are coming from far away and taking days off work to get down to this place.
Lastly, all the workers not speaking ANY ENGLISH is absolutely unacceptable. People like this give Koreans a bad name.

Yep. I was right. I hate this place. The workers there dont work to help us out. They literally reject any documents you give and tell us to come back. YOU are the ones who gave me the documents in the first place! It’s the same workers too. They know me and I know them. They almost seem to refuse service! They need to change their staff!
Even a friend of mine was trying to process her visa, but told her to get it done in Korea –_​_​_​_​–

Before going know that not one person working here speaks any English at all. You would imagine that since this consulate is located in the U.S., the employees would speak some English or at least have a person on staff who could communicate with the customers who do not speak Korean, but no, that is not the case.
It was a nightmare trying to communicate with the employees. I received vastly different information from multiple workers when asking the same questions. When I failed to fully understand their instructions due to my not-​so-​fluent Korean, they responded with a heavy *sigh* and repeated the same thing back to me as if saying it twice would make me better understand.
To top it all off, one lady working there was on the phone with her friend while I waited at the window. She stopped talking for a few seconds, looked up at me straight in the eye, and went back to talking with her friend, proceeding to make me wait 10 minutes for her to get off the phone.
Avoid this place if at all possible…

Being a Korean male is a very tiresome business. There’s many things i have to deal with, but methinks nothing is more cumbersome or tiring than having to deal with your citizenship status with the motherland
Why is that? Unlike the United States or other countries, Korea grants citizenship based on jus sanguinis. You are granted Korean citizenship through your parents and by them registering you with the national registry, irrespective of your place of birth. Many a Korean son was unaware of this fact (being born outside of Korea) and were forcibly drafted into the Korean military, just because they had no idea they’re still regarded as citizens there. i actually know a person who was drafted in three years ago
i want to go visit the motherland, but unfortunately, i can’t do that unless i renounce my Korean citizenship. So, i went to the Consulate and got the necessary paperwork… but i can’t proceed since i can’t get the two required documents in hand from Korea. Why? i don’t have a Resident Registration Number (colloquially known as «min jeung» in Korean)
Whilst everything is all done through the Internet in Korea, those of us born outside the country and having these particular circumstances run in to these annoying problems. Even if i were to have a RRN, i couldn’t pay for the damn documents, since they only accept Korean forms of payment (no foreign credit cards accepted). And the Consulate doesn’t seem to be all too mindful of people like me… T. T
i have to wait until my mom can go to Korea soon and get them paperwork done for me. And THEN, i can come back to this Consulate and hopefully get my status cleared
One plus though… free validated parking for Consulate business lol

I feel terrible for people who have to come here without knowing any Korean. I think I’ve grown several white hairs from dealing with the people, one in particular. Their system definitely was not made to provide service; they just want you to have the right documents and then stamp you and then never deal with you again.
I talked to an automated phone service three times because I wanted to talked to an English speaker. I’m fluent in Korean, but English is definitely my preference. But every time I wanted to speak to an English speaker, I get transferred to a voice message system, and never received a call back. Now that I think about it, that really bothers me. All I wanted to do was make sure that i have the right documents before driving all the way to LA from OC. I decided to physically go there after thinking that I had everything I needed.
When I got there, all I got was a rude attitude (this lady is at the ‘VISA’ window. when you talk to her you’ll know who I’m talking about), rolling of the eyes, and unclear information on what documents I actually need. The next time I went (with the proper documents this time), I dreaded talking to this lady. Thankfully, I was helped by someone else at a different window.
The second star is only because I actually got my visa.
Just in an attempt to be helpful, here’s a list of what you need to apply for the F-​4 visa:
–One copy of the visa application with one passport photo (I ordered 8 passport photos because I thought I needed one for every piece of paper I turned in –_​_​– waste of $ 20 for reals)
–2 copies of your American citizenship certificate
–2 copies of your Ki Bohn Jeung Myung Suh (Korean font doesn’t show up on the actual review! Sad face): this is one of the documents that I did not know I needed to have. This just provides them with proof that you were born in Korea.
–2 copies of your Kah Jok Gwanh Gye Jeung Myung Suh: another document that I did not know I needed. This one gives proof that your parents are from Korea and were citizens there. This document and the former, you either need to ask a relative in Korea to retrieve them for you (they’ll need a copy of your identification) or you can call this number in Korea (02)2650−6212~5 (I was given this number from this consulate) and they can fax it to you after you have sent them your identification (which can probably be faxed too)
–2 copies of the Gook Juhk Sahng Shil Jeung Myung Suh-​I have no idea how to accurately translate this in English, but it’s just a form you need that shows that you’ve given up your Korean citizenship (Korean Citizen Relinquishment Form?)
–Your passport
-$ 45 processing fee in cash
With those documents, you should easily be able to get your visa. The visa processing time is very short, which is pretty convenient. You can send all those forms by mail with a return envelope so they can send your passport back to you. I just did all this in person because I didn’t want my passport being sent and returned by mail, and plus, I have family in LA so I killed two birds with one stone and visited them on the same trip.
I hope that helped; and like other people mentioned, they do close at 4 and have a lunch break from 12 – 1. Koreans are cheap; they probably don’t want to hire more people for employees to switch off on their lunch breaks. But you never know, maybe they have other reasons. Good luck!

I was first in line, early in the morn’. And they stamped me okay, this girl looks pretty safe and harmless. So I went to Korea and that was neat. Get in line early, foo’ and don’t wait.