Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Toronto

In most cases, issuance of official documents requires an urgent visit to the consulate, but it seems that the threshold has become higher these days. Maybe I'm the only one who feels that way. Yes, the business-like tone is fine. However, I think it is a bit too much to mention Korean grammar to an older person. They say to write verbs clearly in the power of attorney. Just kindly say, "It's best to write in detail what documents you need. " Can't you say that?
If you answer a question because you don't know, "It's none of my business, " that kind of attitude is not necessary as a consulate employee.

Went for a visitor visa. Straightforward experience.
Staff have great attention to detail and caught a small mistake on my form and we fixed it before submitting. Visitor visa approved in 14 days and I printed it at home and got to keep my passport the whole time.

I visited there at their business hours to pick up the passport, but they were closed. They didn't have any notice at the entrance door. And no one was answered by phone.

The staff were all friendly, but the unfortunate thing is that there is no parking space.
They told me to park in the parking lot of the building next door, but I was told to leave right away because I couldn't park there.
I wish I could park inside the pavilion like before.

Why are you still not allowed to work if you don't make a reservation with the excuse of corona?
The Vancouver Consulate has already resumed the walk-in service for several months. So it's not the Korean government's guidelines, but the Toronto consulate's own guidelines, right?

Even if I make a phone inquiry, I can't connect, whether it's always busy or not on purpose, and the automatic answering system in the beginning is maliciously complicated and I feel like I'm trying to block it on purpose. We listened to the explanation for about 10 minutes, listened to the part we wanted, found the number and dialed several times, and it was really difficult to make a phone call to ask questions. No, your work and Korea work were completely different? Do you not answer that you do not know when I ask if there is any missing documents when entering Korea? Then, should I make an inquiry to Korea during the Korean business hours in the middle of the night? In addition, if the phone answering system is not answered, there is no waiting until the answer is received, and it is disconnected immediately because it is busy, so it may not be possible to connect even after trying all day?
At some point, the parking lot is exclusively for employees, as if it were very natural.

Even if you work less, you get paid the same, so I even doubt that I am not trying to work anyway.
Worst service that hasn't changed in decades.
Even if the consul and staff change, the culture itself within the consulate in Toronto does not change.

Make sure you book an appointment to be seen. Appointments can take weeks so plan ahead. There is no parking on-site and the directions posted on the Consulate Gate are too tiny to be seen from the car, especially with heavy traffic breathing down your neck. Instead, take the turn just before the Consulate for free street parking. It’s a 5 min walk from there back to the Consulate.

Entry gate is from the main road. Walk to the back of the building for the entrance. Make sure you have your appointment printed. I didn’t but they let me in anyway after checking the scheduled list of visitors.

The visa (business) interview was short. Along with the usual visa form, photo and passport, I included letters from my employer, invitation letter from the Korean business, their Korean business registration, copies of past Korean visas and all previous trips and a personal request for multiple entry. I was told that they issue only single entry visas. Kinda disappointing as it means I’ll have to drive from London to Toronto every two months to get the visa. The saving grace: you don’t need to drive back to pick up your passport - visas are issued online and you can take a print out of the visa at home.

The Consulate Staff themselves were polite, courteous and professional.

Can’t believe that I have to make an appointment to even get into the building. Really? Korean people need some help but because we didn’t make an appointment we couldn’t even pass the security desk to speak to a worker. Who is this Korean embassy for? It seems like, it’s only for the workers who were there, Definitely, not for all the Koreans who needs help! While I was at the door, I’ve seen many Koreans got turned away for the same reasons. Ridiculous!

Needed an easy criminal background check. Cannot do without an appointment. This place was so unhelpful

Kind, quick, and professional. I forgot to get my documents verified by the Canadian government but they let me come back two hours after my appointment time after I got my documents verifiedo to get all my forms sorted out. Been here at least 4 or 5 times, haven't had any trouble, at least with the notorial staff.

Everything was straight forward, and very good service from officer (공증).
But parking was not allowed there. It's inconvenient especially in cold weather with snow.

I have experienced myself and seen a few of male staff unfriendly and unkind to other visitors.
I can understand staff can be busy and they meet many visitors. If the work is overwhelming them, they may hire more staff and the only one who is willing to support and provide the best service to the public and to the visitor may fill the positions.

When I lost my passport and requested for a replacement, the male staff I met gave me a strange look and not nice words suspecting me wondering why I was requesting my passport replacement. I have noted the male staff is not working there anymore. I was glad.

Visa service is worse! The agent just said no to me and didn’t tell me what I should do and recommend what I can do! I have to find out the information by myself! I am really disappointed how the agent did it to me!

Waste of time, space, and tax money. Went twice just to be turned back around.

Need help with your paperwork? Don’t even think about it! Not only they won’t help, they will also make you feel stupid by asking you “why didn’t you prepare this before hand? ” “Why didn’t you do _”, when their job is supposed to be helping people fill out and submit paperwork.

The information they ask for is either incorrect, unavailable, contradicting, or extremely hard to find on their website, they do not pick up the phones, and they also do not let you know critical information you need over email either. How is anyone supposed to do anything with the consulate? How does anyone get anything done?

If they’re this terrible at dealing with regular paperwork, I highly doubt they’re any competent in working with emergencies and high-stress situations, like the community is supposed to ask for help in.

Additionally, the security guard was the rudest person I had the misfortune of dealing with. She was constantly rolling her eyes at normal questions anyone could have (or if you don’t want to answer them, post the information properly?) and was speaking extremely condescending, though the rude and condescending tone extended into the middle aged male employee who was “helping” me.

Thankfully there is a mailing option for some paperwork so I’ll be doing that, just so I don’t have to deal with these rude people again. It’s a damn shame these are the staff we have to deal with and there are literally no other choice.

The clerk for notarization was amazing; really efficient and patient in making sure all my documents and forms were ready and proper. I was in and out in less than 15 minutes!

A lot of mixed reviews but i must say, what a terrible terrible phone line operator they have here.
I simply called to see if i can change the appointment to a different time and the lady on the phoneline was "of course you can't! "

what kind of an answer is that from an embassy?

Hopefully, on site staffs are much much more professional.