1. The Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea in Barcelona will hold its re-opening ceremony and begin its work in earnest on January 25.

2. Considering the efforts to expand the foundation for exchanges between the two countries last year, including the entry into force of the ROK-Spain working holiday agreement and the operation of more direct flights between Incheon and Barcelona (eight times a week), the ROK government decided to re-open the Consulate-General in Barcelona to respond actively to consular needs amid the recent rapid increase in the number of Koreans visiting Spain, and to support efforts to increase people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

3. Prior to its formal opening, the Consulate-General began to accept applications for e-passports and issue emergency passports on December 19 last year to increase convenience for Korean nationals. Since then, the Consulate-General has provided various consular services, including the issuance of 156 passports (as of January 23).

4. The re-opening of the Consulate-General in Barcelona is expected to help provide quality consular services to Koreans living or visiting overseas in a timely manner, and thereby strengthen the system for protecting Korean nationals in Spain. It is also expected to further increase people-to-people and material exchanges between the two countries.

* unofficial translation