U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow
inaugurated the new American Presence Post(APP) in Busan
Announcing a new step forward in transformational diplomacy, U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow inaugurated the new American Presence Post(APP) in Busan on October 19, 2007. In a (modest) ceremony at the APP’s location near Busan City Hall, Ambassador Vershbow noted that the APP marks the first opening in East Asia of an American diplomatic facility under Secretary Rice’s initiative to forge transformational diplomacy in vibrant regional capitals throughout the world.
Also attending the event, Mayor Hur Nam-sik gave congratulatory remarks, and Busan Chamber of Commerce President Shin Jung-taik delivered a welcome toast.
The APP will be supervised by the Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs, Mr. Patrick J. Linehan, and the Acting Consul is currently Mr. Robert W. Ogburn, detailed (visiting) from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
With a lean staff and a focus on building relations with important institutions in Busan and surrounding areas, the APP will not issue visas or provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul will, therefore, continue to provide Consular services for Korean, American and third-country citizens from the Busan area. Details on consular services are available at http://www.asktheconsul.org/
Background information: due to worldwide constraints on the U.S. Government's budget, the American Cultural Center closed in October 1996, and the original United States Consulate, located at #2-24 Daechong-dong, Chung-gu, closed two years later in, September of 1998.
About the APP
Office Information
APP Activities
The Consul
