US Visa Changes Spark Rise in South Korea's 'Digital Undertaker' Services
2025-06-28
The US Embassy in Seoul has resumed accepting student and exchange visa applications, but with a new requirement: applicants must make all social media accounts public. This has caused anxiety among South Korean students seeking to study in the US, leading many to seek help from 'digital undertaker' services. These services, offered by online reputation management firms, remove potentially damaging posts and photos from social media. The cost ranges from ₩100,000 to millions of won, highlighting the tightening of US visa policies and the impact of social media on personal reputation.