SUBJECT: Heightened Risk of Demonstrations during APEC Summit

The United States Embassy in Seoul is transmitting the following information through the Embassy’s warden system as a public service to all American citizens in the Republic of Korea.  Please disseminate this message to American citizens in your organizations.

 

American citizens living in or traveling to the Republic of Korea should pay special attention to the high likelihood of protests and civil demonstrations in the Busan area during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, November 12 - 19, 2005.  Korean police advised the Embassy that they expect 30,000 to 50,000 protesters to gather in downtown Busan and in the vicinity of the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center.  Demonstrations may also occur without notice in other parts of Korea, including Gyeongju and other cities hosting APEC-related events.  We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.  American citizens are, therefore, urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible and exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations. 

 

Several days before the scheduled start of the APEC meetings, police will set up a security perimeter around the Haeundae Beach area in Busan.  Only APEC credentialed visitors will be permitted to enter the Agenda Beach security perimeter.  American citizens should also be aware that hotel rooms will be practically unavailable in Busan and the surrounding area for the week of the summit and, in most cases, the two weeks preceding it.

 

The participation of Korean troops as part of the coalition in Iraq raises the potential for terrorist and violent actions against Korean and U.S. Government facilities and personnel in Korea.  Moreover, the Department of State remains concerned by indications that al-Qaida continues to prepare to strike U.S. interests both domestically and overseas.   Terrorist actions may include suicide operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings.   These may involve aviation and other transportation and maritime interests, and may include conventional weapons, such as explosive devices.  Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets.  These may include facilities where U.S. citizens and other foreigners congregate or visit, including residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels, and public areas.  U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea should review their own personal security practices, be alert to any unusual activity around their homes or businesses, and report any significant incidents to local police (tel: 112; from a cell phone: 02-112) and the U.S. Embassy (24-hour telephone: 02-397-4000; fax: 02-397-4101; or e-mail: seoul_acs@state.gov).  For additional information, please read the Department’s Worldwide Caution at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/crispate/pa/pa_1161.htm.

 

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul will continue to keep the U.S. community informed of any changes in the overall security situation. The Embassy encourages all U.S. citizens to register their presence in Korea with the American Citizens Services (ACS) office at the U.S. Embassy or via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov/travel/abroad_registration.html or http://www.asktheconsul.org/.

American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy Seoul
32, Sejongno, Jongno-gu
Seoul 110-710, Korea
Tel: 02-397-4114
Fax: 02-397-4101
DSN: 721-4114

http://www.asktheconsul.org/ (English)
http://www.usavisas.org/ (Korean)
e-mail: seoul_acs@state.gov