Other Services
Emergency Evacuation
This web page will familiarize American citizens in the Republic of Korea with the evacuation plan that the Embassy will activate in case of an emergency.
The plan has one objective: to help you move away from an area of possible danger. The plan calls for the U.S. Department of State, with U.S. military assistance if necessary, to help provide the means whereby U.S. citizens can leave Korea as safely and swiftly as possible. The plan places responsibility on U.S. citizens to take an active role in their own evacuation.
The chance that an evacuation might be necessary is remote. As anywhere else in the world, however, you should be alert to changing circumstances and make your personal decision to depart voluntarily if you feel uncomfortable with the situation. If circumstances change too rapidly for you to leave on your own, this web page will help you have a safe evacuation from Korea.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR EVACUATION ASSISTANCE?
U.S. Citizens
Bring your passport, U.S. birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or any other primary evidence of your U.S. citizenship. A driver's license, Social Security card, library card, or U.S. credit card is not proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, but might be helpful as proof of identity.
Foreign Spouse or Child of a U.S. Citizen
As the foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen, bring your foreign passport and an original marriage certificate. As the foreign child of a U.S. citizen, bring a birth certificate that clearly indicates your parent's U.S. citizenship. Other supporting information about your relationship to a U.S. citizen spouse or parent would be extremely useful.
U.S. Legal Permanent Resident
...also known as an "LPR" or "green card" holder. Bring your green card plus your foreign passport. If you do not have your card yet, bring your foreign passport showing your U.S. admittance stamp as a permanent resident. An LPR's family members who have not yet obtained green cards are not eligible for evacuation assistance.
Others
Holders of I-688 temporary resident cards, I-688-A and I-688-B employment authorization cards, border crossing cards, or nonimmigrant visas are not eligible for evacuation assistance solely based on those documents.
Servants
Household servants and nannies are not considered immediate family members and are not eligible for U.S. Government-sponsored evacuation.
Pets
Pets cannot be accommodated on a U.S. Government charter or U.S. military evacuation flight. We suggest that you make private arrangements for care or transportation of your pets as early as possible. Working animals, such as guide dogs, are not considered pets and will accommodated if possible.
YOUR ROLE IN AN EVACUATION
You have responsibilities in an evacuation. While the likelihood of an emergency evacuation from Korea is slight, you should understand how the evacuation plan works and what will be expected of you. You should know when you should move and when you should stay where you are, where the nearest evacuation center is, and how to get there.
You should be aware of what the U.S. government can and cannot do for you. If you are evacuated, you should be prepared to follow the instructions on this web page and to comply with any requirements the U.S. government might need to impose upon you.
The U.S. government will work to notify you through public media and to move you away from danger once you report to an Evacuation Control Center (ECC). However, the ECCs will attend only to your basic needs for shelter, transportation, and security. Evacuation may be by bus, train, chartered airliner, military cargo plane, ship, or ferry. Travel and shelter conditions may be severely limited, as will luggage capacity.
You are responsible for reaching the Evacuation Control Center nearest your home. During a crisis, it may not be possible to drive a vehicle, so you and your family should be prepared to walk or find alternate means of transportation. Because of the large numbers of American citizens in Korea and the probable limits to vehicle movement, the Embassy will not be able to bring U.S. citizens to the ECCs.
Important Points to Remember:
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Listen to AFN-K radio and television for up-to-date information from the Embassy and U.S. Forces Korea
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Be prepared to act quickly and follow instructions
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Remain calm and flexible
For American Citizen Services (ACS) inquiries, please e-mail us at seoulinfo@state.gov.
For more information on how to contact us, please click here.
Updated: Ocotber 22, 2009
You should be aware of what the U.S. government can and cannot do for you. If you are evacuated, you should be prepared to follow the instructions on this web page and to comply with any requirements the U.S. government might need to impose upon you.
The U.S. government will work to notify you through public media and to move you away from danger once you report to an Evacuation Control Center (ECC). However, the ECCs will attend only to your basic needs for shelter, transportation, and security. Evacuation may be by bus, train, chartered airliner, military cargo plane, ship, or ferry. Travel and shelter conditions may be severely limited, as will luggage capacity.
You are responsible for reaching the Evacuation Control Center nearest your home. During a crisis, it may not be possible to drive a vehicle, so you and your family should be prepared to walk or find alternate means of transportation. Because of the large numbers of American citizens in Korea and the probable limits to vehicle movement, the Embassy will not be able to bring U.S. citizens to the ECCs.
Important Points to Remember:
-
Listen to AFN-K radio and television for up-to-date information from the Embassy and U.S. Forces Korea
-
Be prepared to act quickly and follow instructions
-
Remain calm and flexible