South Korea
Last update 24 October 2023Diplomatic missions
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Level 1: Without special recommendations
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Republic of Korea
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Seoul, the Republic of Korea
Address: 102-8 Hannam-daero, Yongsang-gu, Seoul 04418, Republic of Korea
Telephone: +82 2 794 8625; +82 2 794 8626
Fax: +82 2 794 8627
Out-of-hours hotline: + 82 10 3549 8625
Consular Office:
Telephone: +82 2 794 8625/6
Fax: : +82 2 794 8627
Working hours: 09:00 – 17:30
Opening hours: 10:30 – 12:30, 14:00-16:00
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/korea
Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Korea:
Mr. Kim Hee-yong
Headquarters: Seoul
Consular district: Seoul
Address: 2~3F, Daeyong Bldg. 7, Eonju-ro 133-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06053, Korea
Tel. : +82.2.3014.2700
Fax: +82.2.544.9803
Email: [email protected]
Personal Assistant: Ms. HyeJin Ko, Email: [email protected]
Mr. Choi Kang-yong
Headquarters: Busan
Consular district: the territory of the city of Busan and the province of South Gyeongsang
Address: 11, Jungang-daero, 226 beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan 48733, Korea
Phone: +82.10.9258.0003
Email: [email protected]
Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Sofia, Republic of Bulgaria
Office: Sofia St. "Srebarna" No. 2B, 4th floor
Working hours: 09:00 - 12:30 / 13:30 - 17:30
Tel.: +359 2 971 21 81, 971 25 36
Fax: +359 2 971 33 88
[email protected]
[email protected]
http://overseas.mofa.go.kr/bg-bg/index.do
Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of Bulgaria:
Mr. Yosif Spiridonov
Address: 8000 Burgas, "Lazuren Bryag" residence, office 213
GSM: +359 888 580 220
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Ivo Mihailov
Address: 9000 Varna, 6 "Sofia" St., floor 2, office 3
GSM: +359 888 202 808
E-mail: [email protected]
Mrs. Violeta Sechkova
Address: Plovdiv, Dr. Georgi Stranski Street, Plovdiv Plaza office center
GSM: +359 877 56 97 35
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.hconsulate-korea.bg
General information
Security level:
South Korea is one of the safest countries in Asia. The level of crime in the country is low, but the usual security measures should be taken.
Recommendation for the preparation of citizens in military and non-military crises: The following recommendations are a standard precaution. Their publication is an expression of the desire of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Seoul to inform every Bulgarian citizen in the Republic of Korea about the measures he/she should personally take in peacetime.
The brochure with recommendations, instructions and addresses can be found HERE.
Healthcare:
There are no infectious diseases in the Republic of Korea that require mandatory pre-vaccination.
A special quarantine form is to be completed when the foreigner comes from a country where there are cases of cholera, yellow fever, plague, SARS, etc.
It is not mandatory to present medical insurance when entering the country for a short stay.
It should be borne in mind, however, that there is no specific treaty or agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Bulgaria on cooperation in the field of healthcare and all medical services are paid for personally by the patient, which requires considerable resources.
From 16 July 2019, mandatory health insurance is introduced for foreigners staying in the country for more than 6 months and who are not insured by an employer, except for visa holders of categories A (diplomats/employees of international organisations and their families), B (short-term visits for tourism, transit, etc.), C (short-term visits for tourism, business, etc.), certain subcategories of G 1 (medical matters). Until 2021, foreign students with D-2 and D-4 visas are exempt from the requirement to have mandatory health insurance.
In connection with the spread of Avian Influenza (AI) disease in the Republic of Korea, including its highly pathogenic H5N6 virus, the Ministry of Public Security and Safety of the Republic of Korea has published a list of the following preventive measures:
• Refrain from visiting poultry farms and places where migratory birds congregate;
• Do not touch the bodies of dead birds;
• Wash your hands frequently and for a long time (more than 30 seconds), avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
• When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth or nose with a handkerchief;
• If you experience symptoms of illness, call 1339 (Centre for Disease Control & Prevention);
• Cook chicken, duck, eggs, etc. at temperatures above 75 degrees for more than 5 minutes;
• Ventilate rooms frequently.
Specifics of the local legislation:
Tourist visits to existing military bases and other special purpose sites in the country are generally prohibited. It is recommended that those wishing to visit the demilitarized zone along the border with North Korea join an organized tour group.
Customs requirements:
A customs declaration shall be completed only for the import or export of items subject to declaration.
It is mandatory to declare imports and exports of currency valued at more than USD 10,000, as well as personal belongings and items valued at more than USD 400.
Duty-free import of 10 cartons (one stack) of cigarettes, one liter of liquor, perfume not exceeding two ounces (56.6 g) is allowed.
Prohibited for import and export are any pornographic or similar material that may disturb order and public safety, material related to confidential government information or intelligence activities, counterfeit or forged coins, banknotes, stocks and other commercial instruments, products of animal or plant origin, cold or firearms and ammunition, protected animal species and their products (including sturgeon roe, coral, etc.), drugs or medicines of any kind (without appropriate authorisation) containing narcotic ingredients, etc.
This list is not exhaustive enough and travellers should inform the Korean customs authorities if they are unclear about the items they are carrying.
Customs requirements for Korea can be downloaded from HERE.
Bulgarian citizens travelling to the Republic of Korea should note that, as a preventive measure against the spread of African swine fever virus (ASFV), import of animal products into the Republic of Korea is prohibited. Violators are sanctioned with heavy fines by the South Korean competent authorities.
Road traffic:
Due to the heavy traffic and the specific street marking system in the settlements, caution is advised when driving alone. Driving with a Bulgarian driving licence is not allowed.
Local currency:
South Korean Won (KRW).
Travel papers and visas
Since 13 August 1994 an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) on the abolition of visa requirements has been in force, according to which Bulgarian citizens who hold a valid international passport may enter and reside for a short period (up to 90 days) in this country, provided that their stay is not for the purpose of exercising gainful or remunerated activity. At least 24 hours prior to travel (boarding the flight to the Republic of Korea) they must register and obtain a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) — more information/application for K-ETA can be found at: www.k-eta.go.kr .
When entering the Republic of Korea, a standard two-part information form in English must be completed: ‘arrival’ and ‘departure’, with the second part to be handed over to the Korean border authorities when leaving the country, as well as a customs form. Bulgarian citizens visiting the Republic of Korea should know the location and address where they will be staying or the name of the hotel where they will be staying in order to fill in the relevant details on the relevant forms.
Since 2012, border crossing points of Korea collect biometric data from travellers, except for children under 17 years of age and those travelling with diplomatic or official passports. There is no mandatory registration requirement with the Korean immigration authorities for short-term stay.
Bulgarian citizens who intend to stay for more than 90 days or wish to engage in any gainful or remunerated activity must obtain a visa in advance (there are 31 types of visas in total) from a diplomatic or consular mission of South Korea.
Due to changes in the legislation of the Republic of Korea, foreign nationals holding seaman’s passports cannot enter and reside in the territory of the Republic of Korea without an international passport. In this regard, the provisions of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Republic of Korea on Maritime Transport, signed on 16 June 2005 in Sofia, in force since 25 November 2005, concerning the entry and stay of Bulgarian citizens on the territory of the Republic of Korea, bearers of seaman’s passports, are inapplicable. According to the information provided by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Sofia, for the period of time for which the inconsistencies between the changes in the legislation of the country and the bilateral agreements on maritime transport concluded by the country will be eliminated, Bulgarian citizens, bearers of seaman's passports, when entering and staying on the territory of the Republic of Korea must also hold regular passports.
Further detailed information related to visits to the Republic of Korea can be found in English on the following pages:
- www.korea.net
- www.visitkorea.or.kr
- www.hikorea.go.kr
- www.customs.go.kr
- www.ncov.kdca.go.kr
- www.moj.go.kr
- www.mofat.go.kr
Work in the Republic of Korea:
Bulgarian citizens wishing to work in South Korea or engage in any other gainful activity are required to apply for the relevant visa before entering the country. Foreigners found in violation of the local labour laws and the current visa regime, especially in respect of gainful employment without the relevant permits, are subject to heavy fines and to a mandatory administrative measure of ‘expulsion’ and a ban on entering the country for a period of 1 to 5 years or more.
Competitive service
Bulgarian identity documents:
The Consular Office with the Embassy in Seoul has been equipped with the biometric data equipment and therefore accepts applications for all types of Bulgarian identity documents – passport, identity card, driving licence and Emergency Travel Documents. The Consular Office with the Embassy provides regular (up to 45 days) and fast service (up to 30 days) for the issuance of Bulgarian identity documents (passport and identity card), the issuance of a driving licence is within 90 days. For sending the ready documents to the Diplomatic Mission in Seoul, the applicants use the services of the DHL company.
Legalizations and Certifications:
Bulgaria and Korea are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. Therefore, the documents/deeds drawn up in each of the two countries should bear an Apostille by the respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as translated and duly authenticated in order to serve before the authorities of the other country.
Consular fees are payable in cash or by bank transfer to the account of the Embassy.