Embassy of the United States in Seoul
Encyclopedia
The Embassy of the United States in Seoul is the embassy of the United States in the Republic of Korea
(South Korea), in the capital city of Seoul
. The embassy is charged with diplomacy
and South Korea–United States relations. The United States Ambassador to Korea
is the head of the diplomatic mission of the United States to South Korea.
, with interruption, since the late 1870s.
Relations with nations not aligned with Qing Dynasty
China
were more or less unknown and not welcome before that time. As China's power began to seriously wane in the 1800s, and as Japan's power, and increasing industrialization was on the rise, Korea began to make changes and make overtures to other nations.
The first envoy
s from the U.S were sent to Seoul
by the late 1870s. In 1883 the first Ambassador to the Joseon Dynasty
Korea arrived in Seoul and an embassy of sorts began operation. Soon an embassy was run out of the Ambassador's residence, a villa
given to the U.S. in 1888 by a Korean royal, located just behind the Deoksugung
. This site is still owned by the U.S. government, and is the current site of the Habib House, the official
ambassadorial residence
of the U.S. Ambassador. The Habib House was built as a hanok
(traditional Korean home) in 1974 and is named after Ambassador Philip Charles Habib. http://seoul.usembassy.gov/114_111407.html
The rise of the Empire of Japan
as a great power
began with the Japanese victory over China in the First Sino-Japanese War
(1895) and victory of Japan over Russia
in the Russo-Japanese War
(1905). In 1910, Korea entered a period of Japanese rule
that ended its independence
. After this was formalized in the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty
, the U.S. mission in Seoul was shut down.
A U.S. embassy was not again established in Korea until the end of World War II
, after the Allied forces
defeated the Japanese
. American and Soviet
forces took control of Korea from the Japanese. The Americans set up a government in Seoul in the South, and while the Soviets set up a government in Pyongyang
in the north. The U.S. recognized the government in Seoul in 1948, the same year North Korea
was recognized by the Soviets.
From 1948 the American embassy operated out of a leased hotel
building.
began, and the U.S. Embassy in Seoul was evacuated. Seoul was captured by the North Korean forces by the end of June. The chancery
(on the 5.floor of Hotel Bando) was retaken September 26 that year, by Easy Company of 2d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment
, acting as a United Nations
force. It was lost again to Chinese
and North Korean forces
in early 1951.
In April 1951, United Nations forces retook Seoul for good. The Korean War ended in July 1953 in stalemate
, and the U.S. Embassy was eventually re-opened.
The current chancery building was built in 1962 and was initially an office for the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID). Several years later, the building was given to the U.S Embassy. The Chancery has a virtually identical sister building, built at the same time, directly to its north. This building was once also part of the USAID office in Seoul, but was turned over to the South Korean government
, which uses it as its office for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Chancery is located in the heart of downtown Seoul, in the Jongno-gu
district
. It is on the main street leading to the Kyongbok palace, and directly next to several major Korean government agency buildings. At the time of its construction the building was one of the tallest in Seoul and comparatively modern. Today the Chancery building is much too small and antiquated for the embassy's needs.
Attempts at building a new Chancery have been in the plans since about 1980, but funding issues by the United States Congress
, botched negotiations with the Korean government, and political wrangling between the U.S. and Korean governments over an appropriate site, have led to the lengthy delay in a new Chancery. In 1986 the U.S. purchased land, the Kyunggi Girls' High School site, near the U.S. Ambassador's residence. This was encouraged by the Korean government at the time, with the idea that this site would be the home to a new Chancery building. Full efforts to build there by the Americans were rebuffed by recently empowered local community groups who believed that construction at that site would disturb buried archaeological evidence
, would overshadow the nearby Deoksugung
palace
and ruin the aesthetics of the neighborhood. Current plans call for a new Chancery to be built on land to be relinquished by the U.S. Army
leaving the Yongsan Garrison
south of downtown Seoul, but still north of the Han River
.
, and the deference of South Korea to the U.S. have been factors that lead to such importance.
Increasingly the U.S Embassy has been the focus of demonstrations in Seoul. Whenever a controversial issue crops up involving the U.S presence in Korea, a demonstration
will almost invariably occur at the U.S. Embassy. Several platoon
s of Korean riot police are always present in front of the U.S. Embassy. In the 1990s, other U.S. diplomatic posts in Korea have been shut down, the last being the Consulate in Pusan in early 1999.
was opened in Busan (after 1999 the city changed its romanized spelling
). In October 2007, VPP Busan was changed to the status of an American Presence Post
, with a resident consul. The APP Busan, which is equivalent to a consulate, is located in a commercial office building. APP Busan has no visa issuance section; it reports to and makes all visa issuance referrals to the Embassy in Seoul.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
(South Korea), in the capital city of Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. The embassy is charged with diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
and South Korea–United States relations. The United States Ambassador to Korea
United States Ambassador to Korea
The current United States Ambassador to Korea is Sung Kim. His official title is "United States Ambassador to the Republic of Korea."-Kingdom of Korea:...
is the head of the diplomatic mission of the United States to South Korea.
History
The United States has had diplomatic relations with KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, with interruption, since the late 1870s.
Relations with nations not aligned with Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
were more or less unknown and not welcome before that time. As China's power began to seriously wane in the 1800s, and as Japan's power, and increasing industrialization was on the rise, Korea began to make changes and make overtures to other nations.
The first envoy
Envoy (title)
In diplomacy, an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary is, under the terms of the Congress of Vienna of 1815, a diplomat of the second class, ranking between an Ambassador and a Minister Resident....
s from the U.S were sent to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
by the late 1870s. In 1883 the first Ambassador to the Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
Korea arrived in Seoul and an embassy of sorts began operation. Soon an embassy was run out of the Ambassador's residence, a villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
given to the U.S. in 1888 by a Korean royal, located just behind the Deoksugung
Deoksugung
Deoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a walled compound of palaces in Seoul that was inhabited by various Korean royalties until the colonial period around the turn of the 20th century. The buildings are of varying construction, including some of natural...
. This site is still owned by the U.S. government, and is the current site of the Habib House, the official
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
ambassadorial residence
Ambassadorial residence
An ambassadorial residence is where an ambassador lives, often an official residence. In many cases it is in the same building as the chancery, which houses the embassy . Like embassies, such residences are considered inviolable and, in most cases, extraterritorial.The residences of high...
of the U.S. Ambassador. The Habib House was built as a hanok
Hanok
Hanok is a term to describe Korean traditional houses. Korean architecture lends consideration to the positioning of the house in relation to its surroundings, with thought given to the land and seasons....
(traditional Korean home) in 1974 and is named after Ambassador Philip Charles Habib. http://seoul.usembassy.gov/114_111407.html
The rise of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
as a great power
Great power
A great power is a nation or state that has the ability to exert its influence on a global scale. Great powers characteristically possess military and economic strength and diplomatic and cultural influence which may cause small powers to consider the opinions of great powers before taking actions...
began with the Japanese victory over China in the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
(1895) and victory of Japan over Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
in the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
(1905). In 1910, Korea entered a period of Japanese rule
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
that ended its independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
. After this was formalized in the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty
Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, also known as the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty, was made by representatives of the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1910. Negotiations were concluded on August 20, 1910...
, the U.S. mission in Seoul was shut down.
A U.S. embassy was not again established in Korea until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, after the Allied forces
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
defeated the Japanese
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. American and Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
forces took control of Korea from the Japanese. The Americans set up a government in Seoul in the South, and while the Soviets set up a government in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
in the north. The U.S. recognized the government in Seoul in 1948, the same year North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
was recognized by the Soviets.
From 1948 the American embassy operated out of a leased hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
building.
Korean War
When North Korean troops invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
began, and the U.S. Embassy in Seoul was evacuated. Seoul was captured by the North Korean forces by the end of June. The chancery
Chancery (diplomacy)
A 'Chancery' is the type of building that houses a diplomatic mission or embassy. The building can house one or several different nations' missions....
(on the 5.floor of Hotel Bando) was retaken September 26 that year, by Easy Company of 2d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment
2nd Battalion 1st Marines
2nd Battalion, 1st Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Nicknamed "The Professionals," the battalion consists of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors...
, acting as a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
force. It was lost again to Chinese
People's Volunteer Army
The Chinese People's Volunteer Army was the armed forces deployed by the People's Republic of China during the Korean War. Although all units in the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army belonged to the People's Liberation Army , the People's Volunteer Army was separately constituted in order to...
and North Korean forces
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
in early 1951.
In April 1951, United Nations forces retook Seoul for good. The Korean War ended in July 1953 in stalemate
Stalemate
Stalemate is a situation in chess where the player whose turn it is to move is not in check but has no legal moves. A stalemate ends the game in a draw. Stalemate is covered in the rules of chess....
, and the U.S. Embassy was eventually re-opened.
After the Korean War
It has operated in Seoul continuously since the end of Korean War.The current chancery building was built in 1962 and was initially an office for the United States Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
(USAID). Several years later, the building was given to the U.S Embassy. The Chancery has a virtually identical sister building, built at the same time, directly to its north. This building was once also part of the USAID office in Seoul, but was turned over to the South Korean government
Government of South Korea
The Government of South Korea is divided into executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The executive and judicial branches operate primarily at the national level, although various ministries in the executive branch also carry out local functions. Local governments are semi-autonomous, and...
, which uses it as its office for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Chancery is located in the heart of downtown Seoul, in the Jongno-gu
Jongno-gu
Jongno-gu is a gu, or district, in central Seoul, South Korea. It takes its name from a major local street, Jongno, which means "Bell Street". Jongno-gu has been the center of the city for 600 years, since where the Joseon dynasty established its capital city...
district
Administrative divisions of South Korea
||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
. It is on the main street leading to the Kyongbok palace, and directly next to several major Korean government agency buildings. At the time of its construction the building was one of the tallest in Seoul and comparatively modern. Today the Chancery building is much too small and antiquated for the embassy's needs.
Attempts at building a new Chancery have been in the plans since about 1980, but funding issues by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, botched negotiations with the Korean government, and political wrangling between the U.S. and Korean governments over an appropriate site, have led to the lengthy delay in a new Chancery. In 1986 the U.S. purchased land, the Kyunggi Girls' High School site, near the U.S. Ambassador's residence. This was encouraged by the Korean government at the time, with the idea that this site would be the home to a new Chancery building. Full efforts to build there by the Americans were rebuffed by recently empowered local community groups who believed that construction at that site would disturb buried archaeological evidence
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
, would overshadow the nearby Deoksugung
Deoksugung
Deoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a walled compound of palaces in Seoul that was inhabited by various Korean royalties until the colonial period around the turn of the 20th century. The buildings are of varying construction, including some of natural...
palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
and ruin the aesthetics of the neighborhood. Current plans call for a new Chancery to be built on land to be relinquished by the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
leaving the Yongsan Garrison
Yongsan Garrison
United States Army Garrison Yongsan is located in Seoul, South Korea and is home to the headquarters for the U.S. military presence in Korea, known as United States Forces Korea , as well as the headquarters for the Eighth United States Army and Installation Management Command Korea Region...
south of downtown Seoul, but still north of the Han River
Han River (Korea)
The Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Duman, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...
.
Role
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul has traditionally played a key and prominent role in South Korea politics. Issues such as the ever-present danger from North Korea, the presence of U.S. troops in South KoreaUnited States Forces Korea
United States Forces Korea refers to the ground, air and naval divisions of the United States armed forces stationed in South Korea....
, and the deference of South Korea to the U.S. have been factors that lead to such importance.
Increasingly the U.S Embassy has been the focus of demonstrations in Seoul. Whenever a controversial issue crops up involving the U.S presence in Korea, a demonstration
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
will almost invariably occur at the U.S. Embassy. Several platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
s of Korean riot police are always present in front of the U.S. Embassy. In the 1990s, other U.S. diplomatic posts in Korea have been shut down, the last being the Consulate in Pusan in early 1999.
Busan (Pusan) Consulate
A consulate in Pusan was closed in 1999, but in February 2007 a Virtual Presence PostOffice of eDiplomacy
The Office of eDiplomacy acts as an applied technology think tank for the United States Department of State. As part of the Bureau of Information Resource Management, eDiplomacy serves as a liaison between Department of State IT specialists and Department of State diplomats and other employees /...
was opened in Busan (after 1999 the city changed its romanized spelling
Revised Romanization of Korean
The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language romanization system in South Korea proclaimed by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, replacing the older McCune–Reischauer system...
). In October 2007, VPP Busan was changed to the status of an American Presence Post
American Presence Post
An American Presence Post is a very small diplomatic facility of the United States government located abroad.It is usually staffed by a single Foreign Service Officer who carries the title of Consul. An American Presence Post is roughly equivalent to a Consulate, but lacks a regular consular...
, with a resident consul. The APP Busan, which is equivalent to a consulate, is located in a commercial office building. APP Busan has no visa issuance section; it reports to and makes all visa issuance referrals to the Embassy in Seoul.