Overseas Koreans Platform

News Room

  1. Main page
  2. Overseas Koreans Platform
  3. News Room
Overseas Koreans Platform
The Consulate General Has Changed!
Country
Russia
Date
2023.01.25

Visa applications and civil affairs are a constant part of living overseas. Although visa grants are determined by the host countries, you need to provide them with a range of documents to verify your identity. One must visit the embassy or consulate general in the country in order to have such documents issued overseas. Protecting and ensuring the safety of our citizens are the primary missions of overseas diplomatic offices. In addition, issuing a range of civil affair documents for our citizens living overseas is also one of their important tasks. The civil affair work that the overseas diplomatic offices can handle is increasing every year. It is said that the Republic of Korea is well ahead of other countries when it comes to civil services. Anyone who have submitted a civil application to a Russian government office would know how complicated the work process is and how unfriendly the staffs are. In comparison, the diplomatic offices of the Republic of Korea in Russia are famous for their friendly staff, a wide breadth of civil services that they provide, and prompt and accurate work.


The attendees at the 2022 Korean Investors and Traders Meeting and Year-End Party

The attendees at the 2022 Korean Investors and Traders Meeting and Year-End Party



In spite of this, some Koreans express their dissatisfaction with the services provided by the diplomatic offices, especially those who have recently moved to Russia from the Republic of Korea. It is possible that expatriate Koreans, who are used to the friendly and prompt services available in the Republic of Korea, can feel that the quality of services offered by the diplomatic offices overseas is unsatisfactory. However, we need to understand that the diplomatic offices overseas provide civil services through facilities and personnel that are not as fully equipped as their counterparts in the Republic of Korea. There are also administrative procedures that cannot be processed promptly because they are located in Russia. We should remember that the staffs of the diplomatic offices are always trying to provide civil services with the utmost effort and that the Consulate General continues to work hard to provide services in a friendly manner. You can witness such policy dedicated to the residents overseas through the last Korean Investors and Traders Meeting of 2022.


Hwang Yeon-su, Director at KOTRA, reporting the import/export statistics between the RoK and Russia

Hwang Yeon-su, Director at KOTRA, reporting the import/export statistics between the RoK and Russia



On December 23, 2022, the 2022 Q4 Korean Investors and Traders Meeting was held at the official residence of the Republic of Korea Consulate General in Saint Petersburg. The meeting was prepared to serve as a year-end party as well for the members of the Korean Investors and Traders and representatives from Korean businesses who are continuing their work despite the difficult situation that Russia is in. Hwang Yeon-su, Director at KOTRA, shared the import/export statistics between the RoK and Russia for 2022. The Republic of Korea has been running trade deficits for a long time. As of November 2022, the deficits amounted to USD 7.9 billion. Korea mainly imports natural resources from Russia, and on contrary, exports machinery, auto parts, steel structures, and beauty products to Russia. The fact that beauty products are one of the top export items is encouraging. It appears to be due to Russians finding more interests in Korean beauty products after watching Korean TV series and films under the influence of the K-Wave. A notable change in 2022 was that the exportations of ships and lubricating oil dramatically increased by 114% and 60%, respectively.  One can easily understand the current status of trade between the RoK and Russia by looking at the items that are being exported and imported. As a country that is entirely dependent on imports for natural resources, it was estimated that the RoK will continue to make trade deficits against Russia.

In addition, Consul Cho Seung-hee of the Consulate General reported that COVID-19 and swine flu are still spreading continuously in Russia. In response to the spread of the diseases, the city government of St. Petersburg announced the mandatory wearing of face masks in all public and medical facilities starting on December 13. It is said that from 2023, the border checkpoint for cars that is located in Ivangorod, a border city between Russia and Estonia, will be closed for three years due to a renovation, but crossing the border on foot is still possible. A lot of Korean residents living in St. Petersburg used to drive through the Russia-Estonia border to travel to the three Balkan countries. This will not be possible from next year. It appears the situation between Ukraine and Russia has impacted the relationship with Estonia as well.


Korean business representatives participating in year-end party games prepared by the Consulate General

Korean business representatives participating in year-end party games prepared by the Consulate General



After all the official presentations for the 2022 Q4 Korean Investors and Traders Meeting were given, the year-end party began. The program was planned by the Consulate General in St. Petersburg. In addition to having a meal together, everyone at the party shared a good time playing music games and winning prizes.  As mentioned earlier, it is true that there is a psychological distance between residents overseas and diplomatic offices. One thing that is clear, however, is that diplomatic offices work very hard to process civil applications in a prompt and friendly manner. Events that are held for the Korean residents like the year-end party can help narrow the gap between the diplomatic offices and overseas residents and dissolve negative perceptions.

The participants said that they wish there were more opportunities for the government offices and residents to interact as one. The situation in Russia is difficult in many ways. The people as well as businesses, who built their bases in Russia, SMEs and conglomerates alike, share the same destiny as Russia.  The year-end party was the Consulate General offering comfort to those fighting a lonely fight to save their businesses through various difficulties.  Throughout the countless political and economic crises that Russia has been in, the Korean businesses and residents in Russia did not bend their knees and protected their positions to stand where they stand now. As long as the Korean government provides support and the people endure, we will be able to overcome this crisis. We hope this event sets a precedent for overcoming a difficult time through the cooperation between the people and the government office.




Overseas Korean correspondent