1. The Government of the Republic of Korea officially notified the UNHCR on December 28, 2000, its 
decision to establish the UNHCR Seoul Office, with an objective to strengthen continuous and cooperative 
ties with the UNHCR. The Seoul office is scheduled to open in early 2001.

2. The establishment of the UNHCR office in Seoul will provide a permanent consultative channel with the 
UNHCR, which is expected to enhance close cooperative between the ROK government and UNHCR in 
efforts to resolve various humanitarian issues such as international aid for refugees.

3. The ROK government joined the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees in December 1992, and 
has been conducting refugee recognition work from July 1994. UNHCR has been cooperating with the ROK 
government for refugee-related work through the UNHCR Korea-Japan Office located in Tokyo, Japan. 1 
Korean administrative officer has been dispatched to Seoul to be in charge of contacts.

4. Established in 1951, UNHCR is an UN-affiliated organization which comprehensively handles work 
related to the protection of international refugees. The ROK has been acting as a member of the UNHCR 
Executive Committee since February 2000.

                                                            Spokesperson of MOFAT

* unofficial translation