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U.S. Citizen Services

Obtaining vital records and other legal documents

General Information

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul keeps no files of the different documents we issue, such as a Consular Report of Birth, or documents dealing with the death of an American in Korea. These records are instead filed in Washington, DC. We also do not keep any files of Korean civil documents, such as records of marriages and divorces in Korea. These records are held by the Korean government. Other records, such as birth certificates for people born in the United States, are stored in the state of origin.

This page is designed to help you locate the vital record documents you need. The Embassy cannot obtain documents on your behalf, and cannot provide translations of documents issued in Korean.

Jump ahead to information on obtaining vital documents from...

The Department of State  /   The Korean government  /   U.S. states

Documents that Must Be Ordered from the Department of State in Washington

Consular Report of Birth Abroad
A consula report of birth aboard is a document issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate reflecting the facts of a birth abroad of a child acquiring U.S. citizenship at birth through one or both parents. This record, also known as an FS-240, along with the Certification of Birth, DS-1350, are acceptable as proof of birth and U.S. citizenship for all legal purposes.

Please go to the State Department's web page on consular records for complete details on obtaining a copy of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

Report of the Death of an American Citizen
A report of death is a document issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate reflecting the facts of a death abroad of an American citizen. The document is based upon the local death certificate.

Please go to the State Department's web page on consular records for complete details on obtaining a copy of a Report of Death of an American Citizen.

Certificate of Witness to Marriage
A document issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate reflecting the facts of a marriage abroad in which at least one party is an American Citizen. A consular officer must have attended the ceremony. This service was discontinued in 1987.

Documents that Must Be Obtained from the Korean Government

Report and Certificate of Marriage
A certified copy of your Report and Certificate of Marriage may be obtained by writing the specific ward office in which your marriage actually took place. A certified check or money order for the marriage certificate should be made payable to the specific ward office. For your information, most Americans in Korea registered their marriages at the Citizen Affairs Section, Jongno-gu Ward Office near the American Embassy in Seoul.

Citizen Affairs Section, Jongno-gu Ward office
43 Sambongno Jongno-gu,
Seoul 110-701 Korea
Tel: 82-2-731-0640, 82-2-120 and 82-2-731-0114
Website: http://english.jongno.go.kr/englishMain.do 

If your marriage was registered before January 31, 1995, this copy may be obtained by writing the Citizens Section, Seoul City Hall. Seoul City Hall may change a fee for this service. For more information, please contact the Citizens Section, Seoul City Hall.

Citizens Section, Seoul City Hall
110 Seojong-daero, Junggu
Seoul, Korea. 
Tel: 82-2-2133-7902, 82-2-2075-4130
Website: http://english.seoul.go.kr/ 

Documents that Must Be Obtained from a U.S. State

Vital Records such as birth, death, divorce decrees or marriage certificates are usually held by state, county or city governments, depending on location.

To obtain these vital records in the United States, please check the following website for more information.