I'd be interested in answers people get from other consulate/embassy
staff both from locations other than Boston and with different
phrasings of the question.
Well, I finally was able to talk to someone at the Washington, DC, embassy.
Their answer? "We're not sure, but you might need one".
I basically took the same tactic that Sam took; I described the IETF as
a professional organization, and explained I was attending a meeting
of this organization. At first he said that a visa was not required,
because this counts as a "visit", but then he said he wasn't sure, and
maybe I would need a visa.
I then started asking a few more questions. I asked what exactly
"business" travel was defined as, and after going around a few times
about it, he basically settled on the definition that if you were
travelling to Korea to a meeting for a "business purpose", then you
need a visa.
The whole thing was as clear as mud, and he clearly wasn't that familiar
with the regulations. I might try calling a few more consulates to
see if I can find someone more knowledgeable.
BTW, has anyone been able to contact the host web site? (The one
linked off of the IETF Seoul meeting web page)
http://www.tta.or.kr/ietf59/index.htm
I've been trying for a few days now and no go. It doesn't seem like
a local network problem from where I'm sitting, but sometimes it's hard
to be sure.
--Ken