Korea - Visiting Korea (South) for the First Time on Business

Hello folks,

I haven't logged on in awhile, but now that I have I'd like to ask a couple of questions. ;)

I'll be traveling to Seoul next week and would like to know what to expect.
The trip is company related, although I will not technically 'work' there. Actually, I'll attend some meetings and rub elbows with representatives and department heads from other branches of the company.

Question 1: Does this qualify (under their policies) as "work?"

I've heard that Korea strictly adheres to the "any type of work" policies which are common in most countries.

Question 2: Should I be concerned that my upcoming visit is work related, assuming I'd technically be visiting under tourist status?

I have traveled to Korea before on leisure and never had any problems. I'm just wondering if the experience will be the same now since the trip is work related.

Question 3: Should I even disclose that I'm entering the country to attend business meetings???

(Btw, I am a US Citizen, living and working in the Philippines, where I have PR status.)

Thanks in advance for your replies. :)

I would never lie to enter a country. Could you get away with it in Korea? I am sure that you could. But personaly I would not take the chance.

From this site http://www.koreanconsulatela.org/english/index.htm
Short-term Business status(C-2)

- US citizens who want to visit the Republic of Korea for the purpose of business such as marketing research, business negotiations, pilot operation of export machines, etc, within 3 months are required to apply for C-2 visa.

- In case of US citizens, a 5-year valid multiple entry visa is usually issued.

- This visa holder can stay up to 90 days at a time when he/she visits the Republic of
Korea.

- The necessary documents are as follows
1) Valid passport
2) Completed visa application form with photo attached.
3) Documents proving applicant's business activity such as L/C, Invoice, invitation letter,
Contract, company letter, etc

I would never lie to enter a country. Could you get away with it in Korea? I am sure that you could. But personaly I would not take the chance.


Thanks for the worthwhile advice and information you provided. I'll most certainly follow your suggestion about staying on the straight and narrow. On some level I already knew the answer and probably just wanted someone to reinforce it. ;)

Thanks again.

The Korean HK Consulate (http://hkg.mofat.go.kr/eng/as/hkg/visiting/visas/index.jsp) has somewhat different wording. As I understand it, if you aren't taking up employment in Korea (i.e. you're not paid by a Korean entity for any work/business done there) then you're fine on a Visitor/General visa. I know many, many people with European or North American passports who travel to Korea for business meetings and not one of them (myself included) has ever done anything except take the 30/60/90 (depending on passport) visitor visa on arrival.

I am with christep on this one. I've entered Korea literally hundreds of times to do the kinds of things you'll be doing, putting down 'business' in purpose of trip, and I've never ever been given any trouble whatsoever. Not even the time I lost my passport in Korea and had to exit the country without one.