Passport Photos by Gwanak District Office — PhotoFix

When overseas travel dropped away during the pandemic, I went a long time without taking my passport out. Then I checked it one day and found that it had already expired. Before I could plan another trip, I had to get it reissued.

There’s a passport counter on the first floor of Gwanak District Office. For someone who lives in the area, it’s an obvious place to go. The detail that needed the most thought was the passport photo I would take to the counter.

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What to Prepare

For an ordinary South Korean passport reissue, the essentials include:

• Your current passport, if applicable
• Valid identification
• A passport photo taken within the previous six months

The photo leaves the most room for things to go wrong. The specifications are detailed, and a picture that doesn’t meet them can mean a new photo and a second trip to the counter.

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A Studio Next to the District Office

Around the corner from Gwanak District Office is PhotoFix’s Gwanak District Office branch, a short walk from the passport counter.

That location is the main advantage. Even if you arrive at the district office and find that you need a fresh photograph, the studio is close enough to fit into the same errand.

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Prices and the Retouching Option

At the time of the visit, the studio quoted two prices:

• Basic passport photograph: ₩12,000
• Photograph with additional retouching: ₩20,000

The basic service is enough for a passport photo. The studio offered extra retouching, but South Korean passport rules require a faithful likeness. If you choose the extra service, make sure that the version you submit still meets the official photo requirements.

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From Camera to Print in About Half an Hour

The other advantage is the turnaround. At the time of the visit, the sitting and prints took around 30 minutes. That can leave enough time to walk back to the district office and submit the application on the same day.

The studio also had suit jackets on hand. If you drop in unplanned, what you happen to be wearing needn’t put the errand off.

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A Studio for an Official Errand

PhotoFix by the district office is primarily a place for getting an official photograph ready quickly. It’s a practical stop for passport photos, ID photos and other paperwork.

You can bring a photo with you or have it taken on the way to the counter. Either way, the two stops are close enough to make the passport errand straightforward.