S. Korea to reopen consulate general in Barcelona

SEOUL, Dec. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will reopen its consulate general in Barcelona next year to meet a growing need to assist its citizens traveling to the city, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

The National Assembly endorsed the 2018 government budget earlier in the day, including 2.27 trillion won (US$2.1 billion) allocated to the ministry.

The ministry said the spending plan includes recruiting 63 workers, mostly for overseas consular services and the planned consulate general in the Spanish city.

South Korea opened its consular office in the tourist city in 1988 but closed it in 1993 as consular service demand turned out to be not as great as expected.

No details for the plan were disclosed. It was earlier reported that the office could open there in the first half of next year.

kokobj@yna.co.kr
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