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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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 Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:32 pm Post subject: Korean Gov't considers dual-citizenship for foreigners |
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From Koreaherald.com
This is very interesting. It appears to be a total reversal of the policy to force people to choose the citizenship of their children by an early age. It seems that idea has backfired on them, and they found that a lot of Koreans "flew the coop" rather than stick around.
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Government considers dual citizenship
The government began discussing a proposal to allow dual citizenship for both Koreans and foreigners if they meet certain criteria, the Justice Ministry said yesterday.
Along with non-Korean foreign residents who want to obtain Korean nationality in addition to their original citizenship, many ethnic Koreans holding foreign passports have sought dual nationality.
Easing the nationality law was on the agenda at a meeting yesterday of a special committee on policies for foreigners.
The committee chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo agreed to further discuss allowing dual nationality for those meeting certain requirements - namely Koreans fulfilling the mandatory military service, and foreigners with proven professional expertise, officials said.
Under the current law, Koreans who obtained dual nationality when they were younger than 20 have to relinquish one nationality before they become 22 years old. If they obtained the dual status after the age of 20, they should give up one within two years.
Foreigners are also required to discard their original nationality within six months of naturalization.
The prohibition has been blamed for an increasing number of citizens, especially gifted manpower, dropping their Korean nationality in favor of foreign citizenship.
These and other pressing issues concerning foreign residents were discussed by the government panel aiming to formulate a comprehensive set of policies for foreigners.
Prime Minister Han presided over the meeting at Cheong Wa Dae. It was the second such meeting since May last year, when the government first formed the foreigner policy committee composed of 17 Cabinet ministers and seven members from the private sector.
Originally, the president was to chair the event but canceled at the last minute citing fatigue.
Committee members agreed to accept more immigrants and step up efforts to protect the rights of foreign employees.
Consequently, they agreed to issue a job visa, without domestic invitation, for foreigners with experience at global companies and students or graduates of internationally renowned universities.
Korea has lately renewed its drive to improve the lives of foreign residents as part of its efforts to nurture a more friendly environment for foreigners and head off its xenophobic image.
In 2006, the government passed key legislation on the treatment of foreign residents.
It went into effect this month and obliges the government to submit "basic plans" every five years to help build a framework for foreigner policy. Some of the plans will go into effect as early as next year, after gaining approval from Cabinet members and the foreign policy committee.
The government also drew up measures to better protect the rights of foreigners who are married to Koreans. Over the past few years, Korea has seen a surge of people, mostly women, coming to Korea after marriage. But many of these "overseas brides" suffer from unequal treatment by both the law and their Korean families.
As of the end of 2006, the Justice Ministry said that more than 100,000 people of foreign nationalities were wed to Koreans. Almost 90 percent of them are women. Including illegal immigrants, more than 1 million foreigners are thought to be residing here as of August.
The Justice Ministry recently revamped the immigration office to more effectively assist foreign workers and immigrants deal with the legalities involved during their stay here. The Korea Immigration Service also covers refugees and overseas Koreans.
Separately, the ministry runs a call center exclusively for foreigners with inquiries on immigration issues. The operators at the center speak seven languages including English, Russian and Chinese.
By Kim Ji-hyun
([email protected])
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GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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Tough decision that one,
Mmmmm let me see,
Korean Passport V's British (EU) Passport
Korean Passport V's American or Canadian Passport
Korean Passport V's Australian or New Zealand Passport
Korea is Number 1, so of course the brainwashed government officials initially believed people would opt for the Korean passport.
Oh the shock, the horror, some people don't want to be Korean citizens, there must be something seriously wrong with them.
Seriously though, my Korean aquaintances, are visibly shocked to hear that I have no intention to stay here and that I'm outa here with the Korean missus.
"But why would you want to leave Korea", they say. DUH! |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| GoldMember wrote: |
Tough decision that one,
Mmmmm let me see,
Korean Passport V's British (EU) Passport
Korean Passport V's American or Canadian Passport
Korean Passport V's Australian or New Zealand Passport
Korea is Number 1, so of course the brainwashed government officials initially believed people would opt for the Korean passport.
Oh the shock, the horror, some people don't want to be Korean citizens, there must be something seriously wrong with them.
Seriously though, my Korean aquaintances, are visibly shocked to hear that I have no intention to stay here and that I'm outa here with the Korean missus.
"But why would you want to leave Korea", they say. DUH! |
For those making Korean their home, having Korean Citizenship makes life a bit easier.
The F5 is pretty good... and I am sticking with it for now (I have dual citizenship already in HK and the UK). We'll see how things plan out from their end to see if it's any more useful to get the citizenship vs. just a plain ol' F visa. |
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Alyallen
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Location: The 4th Greatest Place on Earth = Jeonju!!!
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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How would that work if you are male?
Compulsory service could be a huge problem for some men. I think...just think, mind you...that the U.S. takes military service in another country as grounds to revoke citizenship. |
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excitinghead
Joined: 18 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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I think that these proposals will remain just that...proposals. Not that Koreans are unique in this regard, but most still take a very black and white view of citizenship and this will take a long time to change. Like tzechuk, I have also have dual citizenship, in my case of the UK and New Zealand, but despite being married to a Korean and having a Korean daughter, here I'm either 100% Korean or 100% not.
By coincidence I'm reading a fascinating book at the moment called "Ethnic Nationalism in Korea" by Gi-Woon Shin (see the link below), and he argues that with being in a military dictatorship for so long, most Koreans grew up with a "blood"-based view of what being a Korean citizen meant, rather than a civil one of rights in and responsibilities towards and from the state that most Westerners have.
That doesn't do the book justice of course, and there's much more to it than that, but I have to run to work now sorry!
http://www.librarything.com/work/2686106/book/17330156 |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Alyallen wrote: |
How would that work if you are male?
Compulsory service could be a huge problem for some men. I think...just think, mind you...that the U.S. takes military service in another country as grounds to revoke citizenship. |
They can only revoke your citizenship if you were a "naturalized" citizen.
If you were a natural born citizen they cannot revoke your citizenship for any reason and that includes service in a foreign military.
They can charge you with treason, but they would have to be in a state of conflict at the time you were in the service and not an allied force.
They can jail you in Guantanamo (out of reach of the constitution and habeas corpus) but they can't revoke your natural born US citizenship.
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Alyallen
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Location: The 4th Greatest Place on Earth = Jeonju!!!
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| Alyallen wrote: |
How would that work if you are male?
Compulsory service could be a huge problem for some men. I think...just think, mind you...that the U.S. takes military service in another country as grounds to revoke citizenship. |
They can only revoke your citizenship if you were a "naturalized" citizen.
If you were a natural born citizen they cannot revoke your citizenship for any reason and that includes service in a foreign military.
They can charge you with treason, but they would have to be in a state of conflict at the time you were in the service and not an allied force.
They can jail you in Guantanamo (out of reach of the constitution and habeas corpus) but they can't revoke your natural born US citizenship.
. |
Thanks for the info..not that it impacts me in any way shape or form...  |
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agentX
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Location: Jeolla province
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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This proposal is nothing new in the world.
For instance, 6 or 7 west African nations had a conference last year to decide whether to give African-Americans dual citizenship within the country of their choice. It was thought up as a way to promote tourism and trade between the regions' people with the US. The slave trade history tours are popular in West Africa.
If the idea goes thru, I might consider it for one of the African Republics.
Though, if the idea goes thru here....I would give it some thought. I just got here 2 weeks ago- I'm not past the honeymoon stage yet. |
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jaganath69
Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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| agentX wrote: |
This proposal is nothing new in the world.
For instance, 6 or 7 west African nations had a conference last year to decide whether to give African-Americans dual citizenship within the country of their choice. It was thought up as a way to promote tourism and trade between the regions' people with the US. The slave trade history tours are popular in West Africa.
If the idea goes thru, I might consider it for one of the African Republics.
Though, if the idea goes thru here....I would give it some thought. I just got here 2 weeks ago- I'm not past the honeymoon stage yet. |
Just out of interest, do you have any idea where your people originally came from? I saw the breakdown once, and was interested to note that in spite of the fair majority of slaves coming from west Africa, more than a few were from places further down and even the other side of the cape and Madagascar. If you don't know, which country would you consider becoming a citizen of? I'd suggest Senegal, Ghana or Burkina Faso, the three most stable and relatively prosperous states in the region. |
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superdave
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: over there ----->
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Korea has lately renewed its drive to improve the lives of foreign residents as part of its efforts to nurture a more friendly environment for foreigners and head off its xenophobic image. |
the government has a LONG way to go before this country sheds its xenophobic image. LOOOOOONG way to go.
however, the immigration change is an interesting idea ... and shows the government is being more open minded about foreign residents.
i know a lot of you are saying that you'd never want korean citizenship, however many foreigners do try and obtain korean citizenship ... since korea is now one of the rich countries, being a citizen here is suddenly an attractive offer for migrant workers.
personally, i don't want a korean passport. i'm happy with my F visa ... an aussie passport is all i need.  |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 2:36 am Post subject: Re: Korean Gov't considers dual-citizenship for foreigners |
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| bassexpander wrote: |
From Koreaherald.com
Foreigners are also required to discard their original nationality within six months of naturalization. |
If I got my Korean citizenship (just a supposition), but I did not relinquish my Canadian citizenship... how would they ever know? |
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diver
Joined: 16 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 3:07 am Post subject: |
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| tzechuk wrote: |
| The F5 is pretty good... and I am sticking with it for now (I have dual citizenship already in HK and the UK). We'll see how things plan out from their end to see if it's any more useful to get the citizenship vs. just a plain ol' F visa. |
Hey Tzechuk,
HAs your F5 made in difference re: things like banking and int'l ATM cards and such? Or are you still a foreigner?
Cheers
PS: I feel like I've watched Letty grow up (through your avatars) and I've never met her... |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:17 am Post subject: |
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I hope that they let people keep dual citizenship: that way my child won't have to decide later on. Also, if my wife wanted to have dual citizenship she could.
My Korean language skills will never be good enough for me to go for Korean citizenship - as well, I couldn't stomach living in Korea my whole life. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:13 pm Post subject: Re: Korean Gov't considers dual-citizenship for foreigners |
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| Young FRANKenstein wrote: |
| bassexpander wrote: |
From Koreaherald.com
Foreigners are also required to discard their original nationality within six months of naturalization. |
If I got my Korean citizenship (just a supposition), but I did not relinquish my Canadian citizenship... how would they ever know? |
My friend does this with her Canadian/Taiwanese citizenship. One of the issues she faces is stamps. She gets an exit stamp in her taiwan passport, goes to canada (uses her canadian passport for entry), comes back to taiwan and there's no apparent stamp for another country. It's as if she's been flying around over the pacific and just came back. They may catch on after a while. |
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Juregen
Joined: 30 May 2006
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| Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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Actually,
I would not mind a dual citizenship.
Just imagine:
"Hey Waygookin"
"Waygookin odiey?" Show ID, Korean
LOL |
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