A 42.5% Surge in International Marriages Over Two Years
Advance Guidance on Required Documents and Procedures by Country
"To register a marriage in Korea, you absolutely need a 'Certificate of Marriage Eligibility.' I read online that you could get a certificate of single status from the Russian Embassy in Korea, so I prepared those documents. But in my case, only documents issued in my home country were accepted, not those from the embassy. The thought of having to leave my husband and go abroad again right after our wedding made me cry for several days."
This is the story of Ms. A, a woman in her 30s from Russia. As international marriages increase, cases of difficulties due to complicated document procedures are also on the rise.
Seo Gangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, visited the civil service office on the 2nd floor of the Songpa District Office. Provided by Songpa District Office.
On March 3, Songpa District in Seoul (Mayor Seo Gangseok) announced that it will implement the 'Pre-consultation System for International Marriage Registration' starting this month. Songpa District is the first among Seoul's 25 districts to introduce such a system.
The number of international marriage registrations in Songpa District rose from 200 cases in 2023 to 227 cases in 2024, and to 285 cases last year. This represents a 42.5% increase over two years. Last year, the district also ranked first among Seoul's districts in terms of the number of family relationship registration work handled.
For international marriage registration, each country requires different types and formats of documents. Whether translation, notarization, and consular confirmation are required also varies by country. If the documents are incomplete, the application cannot be processed at all. There are many cases where applicants have to revisit their home country to reissue the required documents.
In response, the district has introduced a pre-consultation system to check the adequacy of documents in advance, either before arriving in Korea or before submitting the application. The responsible official will provide prior guidance on the necessary documents, required formats, and authentication methods specific to the applicant's country. The official will also explain how to fill out the marriage registration form and the submission procedures. If all requirements are met, the application can be accepted immediately upon visiting, thereby reducing unnecessary repeat visits.
This service is available to residents whose place of family registration or address is in Songpa District and where at least one of the parties to the marriage is Korean. Residents can make a reservation in advance through the Songpa District Office website and choose between telephone or in-person consultation.
Seo Gangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, said, "We have enhanced advance guidance to prevent residents from facing disadvantages due to document issues during the international marriage registration process," adding, "We will continue to provide 'service-oriented administration' that puts residents first."
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