If you have been arrested or imprisoned

One of the most important functions of Irish Embassies and Consulates is to ensure that the rights of Irish citizens who are arrested or imprisoned abroad are fully respected. If you are arrested, in many cases the local authorities will only contact the Irish Embassy or Consulate if you specifically ask them to do so.

When the Embassy is informed of the arrest or imprisonment of an Irish citizen in South Korea (Republic of Korea), we will respond immediately and provide all possible consular assistance.

The Embassy can:

• Visit you or arrange for you to be visited
• If necessary, provide you with a list of local English-speaking lawyers
• Advise you about the prison system and about your entitlement to visits, mail and other facilities
• Pursue with the prison authorities on your behalf complaints about ill-treatment or discrimination
• Pass messages to and from your family (only with your permission)

However, the Embassy cannot:

• Secure better treatment for Irish citizens than local or other nationals receive
• Give nor pay for legal advice
• Interfere with or influence the local judicial system
• Provide any financial assistance while you are in prison
• Pay bail bonds nor fines

In this context you may wish to note the existence of the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO). The ICPO is a voluntary agency that provides assistance to Irish prisoners overseas and to their families in Ireland. The ICPO can be contacted at;

Tel: 00 353 1 505 3000
Fax: 00 353 1 601 6401
Email: icpo@iol.ie