UNHCR to open Seoul office soon

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is expected to open its Seoul branch office toward the end of this month at the earliest, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Wednesday.

The government recently agreed on the establishment of a UNHCR office in Seoul in order to strengthen its sustained cooperative relations with the U.N. organ. The government notified UNHCR of its decision last year-end, the spokesman said.

He added that the Seoul office would open around the end of this month or within next month at the latest.

UNHCR currently cooperates with the Korean government on refugee-related matters through its Tokyo office, which is in charge of both Korea and Japan, and sends a Korean official to Seoul when necessary.