1. The 16th Republic of Korea-Russia meeting of directors-general for consular affairs took place at the Foreign Ministry, Seoul, on November 24, co-chaired by Deputy Director-General for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs Woo In-shik and Deputy Director of the Consular Department Latypov Nail of the ROK and Russian Foreign Ministries, respectively.

※ The ROK-Russia meeting of directors-general for consular affairs takes place in the two countries on an annual and rotational basis. Its 15th round was held in Moscow on October 18, 2016.

2. In the meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress in the implementation of the bilateral “Agreement on the Mutual Abolition of Visa Requirements” and other consular accords; and discussed various agenda items, including ways to expedite the conclusion of an agreement on the mutual recognition of driver’s licenses in a bid to enhance convenience of the two countries’ nationals, to step up consular cooperation to better ensure interests, rights and safety of the nationals, and to work more closely together to make a success of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

° The two sides noted with appreciation that since the entry of the bilateral “Agreement on the Mutual Abolition of Visa Requirements” into force on January 1, 2014, the two countries have seen a steady growth in the number of their nationals visiting each other’s countries, with the number for the first half of the year 2017 alone standing at some 240,000.

- Nevertheless, regarding the increasing number of Russians overstaying illegally since the entry into force of the bilateral “Agreement on the Mutual Abolition of Visa Requirements,” the two sides agreed to mull over various ways to jointly respond, including installing a hotline between relevant agencies of the two countries for crackdowns on illegal employment brokers.

° The two sides also agreed to expedite the conclusion of an agreement on the mutual recognition of driver’s licenses in a bid to enhance convenience of the two countries’ nationals living in the other country.

- In particular, concerning the period of stay required for exchanging driver’s licenses with ones issued by the other country, one of the main issues raised with regard to the agreement, the Russian side mentioned that the Russian government will seek to have the ROK government’s position reflected in the agreement.

※ The ROK government has argued that the agreement be applied to those who have stayed in the other country for 90 days or longer, while the Russian government has maintained that it be applied to those who have resided in the other country for three years or more.

° In case a national of the other country is arrested or detained, the two sides agreed to notify each other of such cases and allow consular access in an expedient manner in continued efforts to work together in safeguarding rights and interests of the two countries’ nationals staying in each other’s countries; and to share with each other information necessary for ensuring the safety of the two countries’ nationals during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

3. The two sides agreed to hold the next meeting in Russia at an appropriate time in 2018.


* unofficial translation