>>The Korean embassy page that is linked to from the IETF meetings page(<http://www.koreaembassy.org/visiting/eng_visas.cfm>) makes it pretty darn clear that US folks should get a visa. They do have a link from that page saying how wonderful US-Korea relations are, of course.
What part are you reading that says this?
"# You may enter Korea without a visa for a stay up to 30 days or less for tourism, visiting, or transit to another country when carrying a valid US passport."
Seems to me to pretty clear that a visa is not needed.
I am not a lawyer, but I don't think attending a professional meeting is either "tourism", "visiting", or "transit to another country". YMMV.
--Paul Hoffman, Director --Internet Mail Consortium