Press Releases

U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow
inaugurated the new United States Consulate in Busan

October 19, 2007.

Announcing a new step forward in transformational diplomacy, U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow inaugurated the new United States Consulate in Busan on October 19, 2007.  In a (modest) ceremony at the Consulate’s location near Busan City Hall, Ambassador Vershbow noted that the Consulate marks the first opening in East Asia of an American diplomatic facility under Secretary Rice’s initiative to forge transformational diplomacy in vibrant regional capitals throughout the world.

Also attending the event, Mayor Hur Nam-sik gave congratulatory remarks, and Busan Chamber of Commerce President Shin Jung-taik delivered a welcome toast. 

The United States Consulate will be supervised by the Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs, Mr. Patrick J. Linehan, and the Acting Consul is currently Mr. Robert W. Ogburn, detailed (visiting) from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.

With a lean staff and a focus on building relations with important institutions in Busan and surrounding areas, the Consulate will not issue visas or provide emergency services to U.S. citizens.  The U.S. Embassy in Seoul will, therefore, continue to provide Consular services for Korean, American and third-country citizens from the Busan area. Details on consular services are available at http://www.asktheconsul.org/

Background information:  due to worldwide constraints on the U.S. Government's budget, the American Cultural Center closed in October 1996, and the original United States Consulate, located at #2-24 Daechong-dong, Chung-gu, closed two years later in, September of 1998.

• Web: http://busan.usconsulate.gov/ 
• Address:  Lotte Gold Rose Building, #150-3, Yangjung-dong, Busanjin-gu, Room No. 612
• Café USA Consul’s Blog
• Contact:  Byun Junghwan Senior Advisor
• Tel: 051-863-0731