Due to an overflow of North Korean refugees reception at the Korean Embassy in China, civil affairs is restricted again, starting Nov. 3. 
The consul publicly announced through the Internet and official notifications on Oct. 31, that civil service of applying business and visitor’s visas must be settled through authorized agencies. 
Civil services such as issuing visas and passports and military services has already been suspended once last month, Oct. 7 because of the overflow of North Korean refugees but has soon resumed with the assistance of the Chinese government on Oct. 20. Civil services are interrupted after 11 days since resumption. 

Source : Maeil Business Newspaper, Oct. 31, 2003