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mzeno
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 7:46 pm Post subject: getting married in korea |
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Anybody gotten married recently to a korean?
Can you fill me in on the procedure/process/policy for an american english teacher?
Simple? Complicated?
Just trying to gather some information for a friend.
thanks |
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singerdude
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 8:03 pm Post subject: |
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It's not too bad. There is a lot of info at the US Embassy Seoul site. It tells you exactly what the couple needs to do. The whole process can be done in less than a day. They will need to make go to the embassy first with all of the documents listed on the site. After they process those documents, they will have to go to the Korean local ward office. After they are finished there, then back to the embassy again, and that's it. |
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NYC_Gal

Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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It's probably just the jetlag, but I can't seem to find what documents are necessary. Would one of you be so kind as to list what I will need to marry a British citizen not working/living here (he will be in Hong Kong when we marry), as an American citizen? I apologize for asking, but I've emailed but it takes 5 business days and if anyone does know, it would be a great help. |
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alistaircandlin
Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 1:45 am Post subject: |
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I'm British and my wife is Korean.
We got married at the British embassy - it was a really quick and simple process. I guess you could get married at either the American or British embassy. This means you can easily register your marriage in your home countries too.
I don't know if you're thinking of having a ceremony too, but I'm told that it's a lot easier in Korea - the wedding agencies take care of everything for you. We got married at Korea House in the centre of Seoul and the people there were great. Not sure that you guys will want a traditional Korean wedding though, since you're both from different countries. |
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mzeno
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:07 am Post subject: |
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singerdude wrote: |
It's not too bad. There is a lot of info at the US Embassy Seoul site. It tells you exactly what the couple needs to do. |
you're so right. thanks. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:39 am Post subject: |
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alistaircandlin wrote: |
I'm British and my wife is Korean.
We got married at the British embassy - it was a really quick and simple process. I guess you could get married at either the American or British embassy. |
One does not, and cannot, get married at the embassy. The embassies provide documentation so one can contract marriage at the appropriate civil office in the ROK. Double check the information on the embassy website and you'll see that's the case. |
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mzeno
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 3:11 am Post subject: |
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CentralCali wrote: |
One does not, and cannot, get married at the embassy. |
One goes to the embassy with required documents and notary fee($90). One then takes notarized documents to local ward office for processing. One then returns to embassy for completion and legal marriage certificate. Bing. Bang. Boom. Your legally married in the ROK! |
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alistaircandlin
Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 3:17 am Post subject: |
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CentralCali wrote: |
alistaircandlin wrote: |
I'm British and my wife is Korean.
We got married at the British embassy - it was a really quick and simple process. I guess you could get married at either the American or British embassy. |
One does not, and cannot, get married at the embassy. The embassies provide documentation so one can contract marriage at the appropriate civil office in the ROK. Double check the information on the embassy website and you'll see that's the case. |
We got married at the embassy, as mzeno has just said. Docs to embassy - then walked to the local ward office, then back to the embassy. The officer there then pronounced us legally married. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 4:27 am Post subject: |
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Let's review the American embassy's blurb on the subject:
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While consular officers at the Embassy are not authorized to perform marriages, they can assist U.S. citizens with the paperwork necessary for a legal marriage in Korea. A common misunderstanding is that you will be married at the Embassy; in fact, you and your fianc�/fianc�e will be married under the laws of Korea. |
I bolded the most relevant bit.
Maybe you'll be more interested in what the British embassy has to say:
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British nationals are able to go through a civil marriage under article 812 of the Korean Civil Code of 1960. Both parties register with the local authorities and the Embassy notarises the necessary documents. A religious ceremony does not constitute a legal marriage, unless a civil marriage has also take place. The documents listed below are required by the Korean government, as you will be married under the laws of Korea. |
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mzeno
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:22 am Post subject: |
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[quote="CentralCali"]Let's review the American embassy's blurb on the subject:
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While consular officers at the Embassy are not authorized to perform marriages, they can assist U.S. citizens with the paperwork necessary for a legal marriage in Korea. A common misunderstanding is that you will be married at the Embassy; in fact, you and your fianc�/fianc�e will be married under the laws of Korea. |
The language is confusing but, the gist of this passage is that you can LEGALLY and CIVALLY be married at the embassy, however, the embassy does not, and cannot, perform the CEREMONY of marriage. |
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alistaircandlin
Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:32 am Post subject: |
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Yeah - we got married at the British Embassy. I don't have any experience with the American embassy. The reason I posted this was that one of the previous posters is British, so I thought it might be useful. |
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OiGirl

Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:32 am Post subject: |
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You are not married at the embassy. You go to the embassy to get the documents necessary to be married in Korea. You return to the embassy to register your marriage with your country. But the legal marriage part (no ceremony) is when you file the papers at the Gu office.
Congratulations to your friends! |
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mzeno
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:46 am Post subject: |
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OiGirl wrote: |
You are not married at the embassy. But the legal marriage part (no ceremony) is when you file the papers at the Gu office.
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This is now a matter of semantics. For all practical purposes you can begin and end the process at the embassy. Are you speaking from experience? |
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brier
Joined: 14 Dec 2009
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:50 am Post subject: Re: getting married in korea |
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mzeno wrote: |
Anybody gotten married recently to a korean?
thanks |
What are you doing? Marriage isn't a word it's a sentence! |
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mzeno
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:01 am Post subject: Re: getting married in korea |
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brier wrote: |
What are you doing? Marriage isn't a word it's a sentence! |
earth to brier....are you ok?...houston,...I think we may have a poroblem with brier.. |
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