Repatriation from Busan, South Korea

Busan (부산, Pusan) is South Korea’s second largest city and its principal seaport, situated on the south-eastern tip of the Korean Peninsula at the mouth of the Nakdong River. It is a rapidly growing destination for British tourism — Haeundae Beach (해운대, one of Asia’s most famous urban beaches), Gamcheon Culture Village (감천문화마을), the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, October), and temple hiking at Beomeosa (범어사) and Geumjeongsan (금정산). Busan is also an important ferry and cruise hub, with connections to Fukuoka (Japan) by high-speed hydrofoil (approximately 3 hours).

Deaths in Busan fall within the jurisdiction of Busan Metropolitan City (부산광역시) rather than the broader Gyeongsang Province that surrounds it. Busan has its own metropolitan police agency, and the National Forensic Service operates a dedicated Busan office.

Consular coverage

The British Embassy Seoul (주한 영국 대사관, Sejong-daero 19-gil 24, Jung-gu, Seoul) is the UK diplomatic mission for all of South Korea, including Busan. There is no resident British consular post in Busan.

British Embassy Seoul: +82 2 3210 5500. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What South Korean law requires

형사소송법 (Criminal Procedure Act, Law No.341 of 1954, as amended): Sudden, unnatural, or unexplained deaths are reported to the police. The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency (부산지방경찰청) attends and investigates. The public prosecutor (검사, geomsa) has authority to order a forensic post-mortem.

Death registration: A death certificate is prepared by the attending or examining physician. The next of kin registers the death at the local 주민센터 (Jumin Senteo, Community Service Centre) or the local 가족관계등록 (Family Register Office). The family register entry (가족관계등록부) is updated accordingly.

National Forensic Service — Busan Office (국립과학수사연구원 부산과학수사연구소): The NFS Busan office conducts forensic post-mortems for deaths referred by the prosecutor in the Busan metropolitan area. This is a dedicated facility within the national forensic network, which means complex cases do not necessarily have to travel to Seoul.

International transport permit: The Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) and the local quarantine authority issue the export permit for international transport of human remains under the Quarantine Act.

Source: Criminal Procedure Act Law No.341/1954 (South Korea); Quarantine Act; 2024.

Medical coverage

Pusan National University Hospital (부산대학교병원, Gudeok-ro 179, Seo-gu) and Dong-A University Medical Center (동아대학교병원, Daesinilsun-ro 26, Seo-gu) are the principal academic hospitals. Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital (인제대학교 해운대백병원, Haeundae-gu) serves the tourist and beach district. The NFS Busan office handles all court-referred forensic examinations independently.

The documentation chain

1. 사망진단서 (Saamang Jindanseo, death certificate) from attending physician. 2. 사망신고 (death registration) at the local Jumin Senteo. 3. Busan Metropolitan Police investigation report (in sudden/unnatural deaths). 4. NFS Busan forensic post-mortem (if ordered by the prosecutor). 5. Prosecutor’s release of the body. 6. Quarantine authority export permit. 7. Embalming certificate. 8. IATA cargo documentation — PUS (Gimhae International Airport) or ICN (Incheon International Airport) to LHR.

Gimhae International Airport (PUS, in Gimhae city, 30 minutes from central Busan) handles international flights including regional connections to Japan, China, and South-East Asia. Most international cargo for Busan repatriations to the UK routes via Incheon International Airport (ICN, approximately 4 hours by road or via domestic connection) — which has the largest cargo terminal in South Korea and direct LHR services via Korean Air and British Airways.

Note: all documents are in Korean. Certified translations are required for UK funeral directors and registrars.

Timeline from Busan

• Natural death, expected, hospital: 10 to 21 days
• Prosecutor investigation, uncomplicated: 14 to 28 days
• Complex forensic case: 4 to 10 weeks

For repatriation guidance, contact our team via our enquiry form or WhatsApp.

See also the South Korea repatriation guide and repatriation from Seoul.

Information based on Criminal Procedure Act Law No.341/1954 (South Korea). Last reviewed May 2026.