Republic of Korea Passport - Physical Appearance

Physical Appearance

South Korean passports have the Korean Coat of Arms (bottom right) inscribed in the center of the front cover, with the Korean word Daehanminguk Yeogwon (대한민국 여권) inscribed above and its English translation Republic of Korea Passport below the coat of arms. Ordinary passports valid for five or ten years are in dark green.

The identity information page contains:

• Photo of the passport holder
• Type (PM or PS) PM passports can be used for multiple entries while PS passports are valid for single entry.
• Issuing country code - KOR
• Passport number (Includes a total of nine digits. Two Digits are the issued local code, 7 digits are the serial number. For example, JR is for Jongno-gu, TM is for Dongdaemun-gu, SC is for Seocho-gu, KN is for Gangnam-gu, GK is for Gyeonggi-do) In the newly issued passports starting August 25, 2008, the Passport Number will retain the same 9 digits but the Issued Local code will be changed to a single letter m noting PM passports and s for PS passports. The rest of the 8 digits will be the serial number.
• Surname - (Passports from many other nations such as Bulgaria and Greece have the names to be written in local script then in Latin alphabet. However, in Korean passport, only Latin alphabet is permitted for use in the Surname and Given name sections.)
• Given names
• Nationality - Republic of Korea (Despite the law 'Framework Act on the National Language' stating that all official document must be written in Hangul, the official script of the Republic of Korea, Nationality is not written in Hangul. According to the law, scripts other than Hangul can be used in parentheses after the counterpart written in Hangul and such usage must be permitted under a presidential decree.)
• Date of birth
• Date of issue
• Date of expiry
• Sex
• Personal ID number (Resident registration number of South Korea); however, South Korean passports issued to Zainichi Koreans do not have resident registration numbers, reflecting their statutory exemption from taxation and conscription in South Korea (and conversely, their inability to vote or stand for election there).
• Issuing authority - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Hangul name

The textual portions of passports is printed in both English and Korean. The note inside Republic of Korea passports are written in both Korean and English. The message in the passport, written by the South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, states:

In Korean:

대한민국 국민인 이 여권 소지인이 아무 지장 없이 통행할수 있도록 하여 주시고 필요한 모든 편의 및 보호를 베풀어 주실 것을 관계자 여러분께 요청합니다.

In English:

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea hereby requests all those whom it may concern to permit the bearer, a national of the Republic of Korea, to pass freely without delay or hindrance and, in case of need, to afford him(her) every possible assistance and protection.