According to a counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ottawa, the term "Passport No." refers to the passport number (9 Oct. 2003). It is preceded by two letters that indicate the type of passport, such as DR for diplomatic passports, or the location of where the passport was issued, as in the case of CN for Canada or JR for the district of Seoul (Embassy of Korea 9 Oct. 2003).

The "Personal No." located on the page containing the passport photograph is a part of the Korean citizenship identification number (Embassy of Korea 9 Oct. 2003). There are a total of seven digits in the personal number beginning with either a number 1, for males, or a 2, for females (ibid.). The complete citizenship identification number, or registration number, appears on the Korean national identity card and is made up of the personal number preceded by the person's date of birth (ibid.). National identity cards are issued to all Korean citizens by local government offices (ibid.).

The numbers at the bottom of the odd-numbered pages of the passport are primarily intended to prevent passport fraud (ibid.). Ordered by the Korean government, the numbers are a combination of the passport, personal identification and other personal numbers such as a person's date of birth (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Ottawa. 9 October 2003. Telephone interview with a counsellor.