Korean Consulate LA is facing complaints from Korean residents over its handling of civil service requests, including questions about immigration status, allegedly condescending responses and inconsistent guidance.
Critics say the consulate, which is supposed to protect Korean nationals overseas and provide convenient public services, is instead becoming a source of frustration for many Korean residents in Southern California.
One Orange County resident, identified only by the surname Kim, visited the Korean Consulate in LA in March to obtain a power of attorney for a real estate matter in South Korea. Kim, who is
currently staying in the United States on a student visa, submitted the required documents along with a copy of her visa.
However, according to Kim, a consulate staff member asked what immigration status she had previously held in the United States. When Kim answered that she had previously stayed on a J-1 exchange visitor visa, the employee told her that the power of attorney could not be issued because she did not have proof of a change of status. Kim was then told to return in 30 minutes.
Kim said she was not given a clear explanation as to why she had to wait or what additional document was actually required.
When she returned to the window 30 minutes later, the power of attorney was issued without any further explanation or request for the previously mentioned proof of status change. Kim later consulted an immigration attorney and was told that a separate federal document proving a change of immigration status, as described by the consulate, generally does not exist.
Such experiences have contributed to the reluctance among some Korean residents to visit the LA consulate.
Complaints about the consulate’s service can also be found in Google reviews.
One reviewer, Jiyeon Shin, wrote that she needed information but felt the response was “overbearing and irritated,” adding that she felt uncomfortable after ending the call.
Another reviewer, Lois Cha, said she called to ask what documents were needed to obtain her child’s certificate of entry and exit records. According to Cha, she was told to simply come in. But when she arrived, she was asked to present the original passport of the parent acting as the representative.
“When I asked why the information was different from what I was told over the phone, I was told that the answer depends on who picks up the phone,” Cha wrote.
The LA consulate’s civil service issues were also raised during a parliamentary audit in South Korea in 2022. At the time, Rep. Lee Myung-soo of the People Power Party criticized the consulate’s poor service, asking, “Is this the level of the South Korean government?”
The issue of consulate staff asking about immigration status is especially sensitive amid heightened concerns over anti-immigration policies. Critics say such questions, when asked without proper context, can make visitors uncomfortable.
According to materials recently submitted by South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Rep. Kim Tae-ho, a member of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Korean nationals overseas are entitled to consular assistance and civil services regardless of their immigration status under the Consular Assistance Act.
However, documents related to immigration status may be required in certain cases, such as when a person must prove foreign nationality for renunciation of Korean nationality or confirm permanent residency for overseas migration reporting.
Eunjung Lee, 47, of Irvine, said she has repeatedly felt that some consulate employees issue instructions without clearly explaining the reason behind their requests.
“Every time I visit the consulate, I feel that some staff members make demands in a commanding tone without explaining why,” Lee said. “It feels like Korean government employees have received less service training than workers at a neighborhood coffee shop.”
In response, Consul Jeon Ho-jung of the Korean Consulate in LA said, “We frequently check the civil service office to ensure visitors do not experience inconvenience while using the consulate.” Jeon added that in some cases involving abusive visitors who shout without cause, security staff take appropriate measures.
Even when required documents are based on guidelines from government agencies, visitors may perceive the process as unfair if the reasons for those requirements are not clearly explained or if the rules are applied inconsistently.
Rep. Kim Tae-ho said consular assistance is often the first government function Korean nationals think of when they face difficulties or need help abroad.
“We will closely examine the issue so that Korean nationals can receive timely and appropriate consular assistance,” Kim said.
