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Timing Sucks - USA Embassy

 
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Muhaksan



Joined: 28 May 2007

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:03 am    Post subject: Timing Sucks - USA Embassy Reply with quote

So I'm here in America toiling away at my new job. My wife of 7 years is all set for her immigration visa interview this coming Monday morning. I've been following the beef issue but only on this board. Haven't seen any of the Korean (snicker) media reports.
So I want to ask - How's safety been around the US embassy recently. I'm kind of freaking out. She's not what I'd call "street-wise", is from the country, and has never been to a protest.
To top it off - her 7 months pregnant sister will be with her. Guess sis outta stay well away, huh???
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icicle



Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Location: Gyeonggi do Korea

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I haven't heard much mention on Korean media about protests focused on the US Embassy ... The main dispute right now seems to be with the Korean Government and with their handing of this rather than with the US Government ...

I would personally be more concerned about staying away from the areas in which the protests are actually being held ... especially over what is now a three day weekend .. with so much talk about more people joining the protest with an extra day off ...

But I would also not think that your wife or her sister would have anything to be afraid of in going to the embassy ...
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Hyeon Een



Joined: 24 Jun 2005

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

icicle wrote:
I haven't heard much mention on Korean media about protests focused on the US Embassy ... The main dispute right now seems to be with the Korean Government and with their handing of this rather than with the US Government ...

I would personally be more concerned about staying away from the areas in which the protests are actually being held ... especially over what is now a three day weekend .. with so much talk about more people joining the protest with an extra day off ...

But I would also not think that your wife or her sister would have anything to be afraid of in going to the embassy ...


Well:

(1) the embassy is RIGHT NEXT TO the area the protests are being carried out.

(2) The embassy HAS been targetted in the last couple of days by protesters.

However:

One thing Seoul is always good on is the number of cops:protestors. Cops tend to outnumber protestors by a hell of a lot. Often 10:1 or more. There is no way they'd want any Americans (or people who might be Americans, even if they look like Koreans..) getting hurt. There will be huge protection (as always) around the embassy and the OPs woman should be in no danger at all unless she staples American steak all over her body on her way in.

It will be busy and a little bit intimidating (14-20 thousand riot police will do that..) but that area is and always will be one of the safest areas in Korea unless some crazy stampede starts or Wifey decides to jump in the middle of a protestor V riot police scuffle on her way to the embassy.
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Young FRANKenstein



Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:08 am    Post subject: Re: Timing Sucks - USA Embassy Reply with quote

Muhaksan wrote:
How's safety been around the US embassy recently. I'm kind of freaking out. She's not what I'd call "street-wise", is from the country, and has never been to a protest.

The protesters are across the street from the embassy as well as down the street at the park (near Kyungbok Palace). The visa lineup is behind the embassy. Plenty of people not too pissed off about the beef in order to line up around the corner trying to get their US visas.
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BS.Dos.



Joined: 29 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Move to Europe and get over it.
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spliff



Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Most of the Embassy staff are now accompanied by bodyguards when outside the Embassy.
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wylies99



Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know a South African who was slapped in the face while in that vicinity on Tuesday afternoon.

I would avoid it. The "Death to America" Koreans are acting up.
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Young FRANKenstein



Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

wylies99 wrote:
I know a South African who was slapped in the face while in that vicinity on Tuesday afternoon.

I would avoid it. The "Death to America" Koreans are acting up.

I live in that area, and I would caegorize that as an isolated imbecile. It is not THAT bad there.
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d-rail



Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: Gangnam

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have had to go to the U.S. embassy three times over the last 2 weeks, and I can tell you I haven't felt any danger at all. It had usually been morning or afternoon, but still, nothing.
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newteacher



Joined: 31 May 2007

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was there yesterday and it was fine. Lots of police, but I didn't even see any protesters.
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