Korean Cultural Centre UK(Embassy of the Republic of Korea) Review

Efficient, great, easy & fast unlike schengen visa centres.

I went to the Korean Embassy today thinking it was going to be very horrible service from the bad reviews, however, it wasn't awful as expected. But there are confusing parts which could have been made clear once you get there. When you go in you will see the front desk security people, you go upstairs and there is the visa area.



Hope this helps anyone!

I had visited once before and lost my passport, but I could not go back. Thankfully, the Embassy woman who found her passport called me several times and sent her safely.

May I ask if anyone had recieved a receipt or other proof of transaction after their visa application? All I got was a small ticket with a number, it resembles a raffle ticket...

Update: the ticket works fine for tracking your application online and picking up the visa.

Had no problems making a new passport. It came very quick!! Hope they work on Saturdays too. Or a bit longer on weekdays

Very friendly and helpful staff from security to the gentleman on reception through to the lady at the desk. As others have said, do your research online first, come prepared (photos, forms, stamped addressed envelopes etc) and the experience will be a pleasant one.

Very rude staff, they don't want to admit the mistake they have done that causes trouble, delayed, wasted money and time. their staff gave us false information about visa. They don't want to take any responsibilities about it. People beware you need to record every conversation you have with them! Unreliable and very unprofessional staff they have in there!!

very rude lady staff on visa section. I have been to many countries and have applied countless visa but this embassy has the worst staff. The way she talks to me was unacceptable. Never going back!

After reading the reviews of the woman with short hair and glasses I was so scared about what would happen when applying for my visa. Got there and was seen by that same woman but she was quite nice. Slightly quiet voice but it was quite busy but she processed all my documents quickly and answered all my questions without fail. Didn't even need half the documents that the website said I did as well!

Absolute disgrace! I agree with all the comments. There is one lady in particular behind the window (short hair and glasses) who is extremely incompetent and rude. She gets frustrated because her English is broken and can't explain things properly. She found a mistake in one document and I accepted that. I asked her to check all documents for any other issues and she said 'No, nothing else' without actually checking. The next day I come to the consulate to apply again. Of course, because she didn't bother to check the first time, she found another mistake and I couldn't apply for the second time. She also said that she didn't see that document the day before when I'm absolutely sure the same document was in the folder. She basically lied to cover for her incompetency. She doesn't know what she is doing. Looking at the rest of the people sitting behind the windows in that consulate, they all look so miserable. I noticed that most of the people in the comments who gave this consulate good review are either Korean and British. Sounds to me that they have some sort of double standards!

A+++ service during Covid-19 lockdown. Professional and kind service from the Embassy staff. Best of the world every single way ! Thank you.

Here to apply for a work visa. The application desk opened promptly at 10 o'clock and the lady who served me was friendly and helpful. The building is modern with a toilet and water cooler in the waiting area.

Applied for work visa, didn't realise it was cash only but the security guard pointed out the nearest one. It was busy when I was there but moving.
One thing everyone needs to know is only open 10-12 as it's not super clear on the website

Quick and efficient, finished the burden I've been putting off for months on end in 15 minutes

The woman staff is literally rude and seems like she doesn't wanna work there, which is unhelpful.
she will never be willing to help you. she's the worst human being i've ever seen

Probably the most infuriating experience I have had in my life.

Firstly, completely incompetent staff that had no idea what visa I wanted to apply for and only kept pushing me to apply for a visa that they wanted me to.

Secondly, was subject to such rude treatment. I was completely ignored and instead the lady at the visa section was speaking to my korean friend who only came along with me for moral support.



I would sell my kidney just to be able to give 0-stars.

Very straightforward if you actually have your documents in order. Cramped waiting room but fine besides that.

Also, Yulin is in China. I'm not sure where all of these strange attacks are coming from on the reviews!

The Korean staff is unfriendly, distrimation deaf of us, not helping

Rude staff. Understaffed. They do not want to help anyone.

As usual ok very polite but be aware u have to go on line and get an appointment as the people u need to see may not be there and you are not seen

The staff was very helpful, polite and informative. Very much appreciated with him.

Also even security guards were very polite and friendly too.

Thank you very much.

I don't fully understand why they put 9.30am-5.30pm on google whilst they do not allow people in after 4PM. They said their working time is until 5.30pm.

My passport got stolen so I called them 3 times in total as I remember in last couple of weeks, to get few information about my stolen passport and stuff.

I found them quite unhelpful. They kept told me to just check the webpage over and over again.
Don't you think I've already checked and just wanted to double check before I actually go down there?

Service was relatively nice.

Very helpful, friendly staff when I arrived late and flustered, thank you!

I've called on at least 3 occasions about the visa & quarantine process but have been met with rude, nonchalant responses. The lady I spoke to today barely had a clue about what she was talking about. It was mostly yes and no - terrible customer service if I can be frank

Their website isn't clear on lots of areas. My particular experience was over a police check. Staff not helpful and not friendly. To be fair the British Embassy in Seoul is the worst I've ever encountered in terms of services offered and their charges. Premium rate Tel numbers all round.
The Korean embassy London is the land of the rising calms revenge.

Check their website.
Check by phone.
Wait one day.
Check again by phone.
Contradictory statements are the norm here.

A worker with short hair and wears glasses who works at the Visa section is extremely rude. She was talking to someone Korean with smiles and laughs yet when it came to me, her face was completely serious (it doesn't hurt to smile).

I asked her about something yet all she kept saying was "no" until I showed her an email of the embassy saying that they do it. Then she tried to make excuses for why I needed a photocopy of my visa and passport when I had my physical passport with me as proof. She never explained to me why a photocopy was needed, it was just a constant "no, you need it". She was so blunt and she didn't even offer any alternatives.



I'll allow 1* since the staff at the reception were very friendly and helpful.

I went to reception to get my passport renewal 3 weeks ago, but even though the desk guard arrived at 2 o'clock, he told me to come in and wait for him to come in. :) And today I've got a good passport. It was a very good experience, except for a short business day!

The visa department is incompetent, lacking in customer service

Huge improvements have been made.
Have to echo - do your research online - arrive 15 minutes early (if you re applying for a VISA: 10:00~12:00). Friendly and very helpful security, polite and well informed staff. Cash Only. Expected at least 2 weeks processing for your VISA (during COVID)

The staff at the Visa counter is one of the rudest, unfriendliest and unempathetic human being that I have ever met in my life. Extremely frustrating to deal with and definitely ruined my experience with Korean (with all respect to my Korean friends). I almost lost my patient and withdrew my application because of her. The Embassy represents a country and it s people and with these untrained and unwelcoming staffs you definitely stop visitors coming to your country!

Unbelievably rude staff.

Having read some comments about the usual suspect - the lady with short hair and glasses - I went there and hoped I have a better chance of running into someone decent. And guess what, they only operate one counter for visa application, and that lady is the only one behind the window.

The application process is like a court trial, she gets very excited when there s even a tiny bit of flaw : I had my bank statement printed until 1 week ago, she kept insisting it was not enough. When I told her the website claimed the requirement was up to two weeks before, she admitted she was wrong and got upset. Then she went for the fact I didn t have a photocopy of the passport etc etc.

It s like her sole mission is to block people from getting a bloody visa.

I really hope this has nothing to do with geopolitics and stuff like that, and it is only because of her being crude, otherwise it is truly a disgrace for an embassy.

After being literally terrified of the visa lady (short hair and glasses), I was pleasantly surprised. The lady was quick and nice to me and she even requested less documents than it is stated on the embassy's website.

Most efficient and friendly service I've ever encountered in London. Stunning.

Catastrophic experience of absolutely inhuman behaviour. Gentleman at the encounter wouldn't let me stay 2 minutes longer to correct my visa application and called a security. My behaviour was not aggressive nor any way unpleasant to that person. Since I found myself in a quite complicated situation regarding the visa process (which I tried to explain to the gentleman), no assistance was available. I understand completely the opening time and I respect it however if that is how the Republic of Korea wishes to appear in the eyes of tourists/exchange students, I will have to re-consider choice of the country as the destination for an exchange semester.

Super friendly!! Everything was more than on time! All the people who work at the embassy were incredibly professional!

Cool building and friendly service
But it's a bit of false advertising since it weren't the True Korea

I don't know if there's only one English person in charge, but if you're going to be away for service only five hours a day, when should you leave a voice recording to call me back? I was so embarrassed and embarrassed that my English friend asked me to help me with Korean language service so that I could not answer the Korean Embassy more than ten times. Alien Relative get a phone call.

It's just impossible to call them, both the visa section or switch board
I had to check if it is supposedly their holidays but it's not
This isn't helpful for someone who don't live in London and cannot pay a visit to the embassy for enquiries like me

The staff here are friendly. Other missions abroad are kind and unsatisfactory, but British missions are good.

I have been to Embassy 4 times this year. Each time I have been impressed by all the staff. They are friendly and helpful. I have had so many bad experience in English public offices. So I would say they are doing a considerably good job. Thank you.

10am- 12am ONLY! Google says it is open 2pm-4pm but this is not correct - it's only the phone service open at these times. If you want a visa check arrive 9:45am, ready for the staff to help you at 10am. No calls allowed in the building. Staff are patient and helpful.

I was so disappointed about the people working at the visa section because my korean teacher is so nice and kind and polite. The lady with short hair and glasses receives my documents. Every day I go there, she points out a mistake then I have to go home without doing anything. Anothey day I comeback and another mistake pointed out by her. They have different information about the requirement on their official website and the requirement that they gave to me. They always say we have our own regulation, I do respect their policy but the way they operate it is wrong and complicated. Hopefully not all of korean people will behave like that.

Rude service and outdated application process. They asking bank statement with stamp. But hellooooo this is the 21st century, no UK banks do stamp bank statement. So if you try to apply for Visa for yourself or for your partner. Don't ever bother. Get EEA,US passport and then you can go to Korea otherwise forget it. Pathetic

Hi friends
Please someone help me I'm running kids ministry here in Pakistan I want to visit London or Korea for my ministry work. I need invitation letter please someone help me for letter. Or anyone want to visit us before this please come. Before three one of uncle did fraud with us he said he will help us with all things but he took money and gone Korea and now he's living hide from government and without visa and permission. Please someone pray for us he will come back and return our money. Thank you I trust you friends anyone will reply me.
God bless all

Very kind staff and helpful. If you do you research online and go prepared it's very simple. Difficult to contact them by phone but they always responded to emailed questions quickly.

Very Very unpleasant talk with the lady on the phone. She is not willing to help at all. I cannot believe the lady is getting paid high salary to serve such a poor service in the embassy.
The embassy represents the face of one's country in another nation, and obviously Korea is doing quite a bad job at this.
The lady should have some connection with the high rank in Korean government authority to secure the nice position in the embassy like London, it is very unfortunate that a parachute lady is spoiling Korean image in London.

If i could leave a 0 star I would. The requirements for a Visa is Abysmal. Letter needed for outdated diseases? GP's don't issue letters willy nilly. Covid testing YOU DON'T GET LETTERS. RK embassy. Please do one.

Shockingly rudest staff I ever met. Consulting about the translation of my Korean driving license over the phone with a lady, I ve received the most unhelpful and unpleasant conversation ever. She was very aggressive to start the conversation, instead of listening my inquiry, asking a series questions that are not relevant. They haven t got back to my request for translation after I posting my documents for 4 weeks, which is double the time of 2 weeks they said on website. How a pathetic country with an image of nepotism!

Lady at the reception is very rude . I was completely nice and polite despite that she hung up on me for no reason . I was phoning to ask about visa . the section visa they dont pick up any calls . it is frustrating . shame on them . disgrace. how the hell will get info if they did not help us. sometimes their website does not have all info u need to know. !!

Unwelcome atmosphere and staffs except the security in reception, no clear information as in what exact period of time for collection of visa wasted my time and energy not a pleasant experience.