| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
jbar612012
Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Location: Minnesota
|
 Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:20 pm Post subject: Korean adoptee military service |
 |
|
| Does anyone know what a male Korean adoptee from the US should do to ensure they will not be required to do military service after entering Korea? I'm finding conflicting information about whether adoptees are exempt or not. Born in 1981 if that is relevant. Thank you! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Engrish Mufffin
Joined: 09 Jun 2013
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 9:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| If you are not a Korean citizen, you don't have to serve. In other words if you're here on an E2 or F4, you are not a Korean citizen. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jake_Kim
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
'I have U.S. citizenship but I got conscripted by Korean military'-type stories, if true, stem from an untold underlying fact that they or their parents haven't done a proper paperwork to sort out their nationality.
In principle, Korea does not allow dual citizenship, despite of the recent minor amendments to its nationality law. Those kids had to have been Korean nationals from birth by blood, declared and registered so on national registry, whether or not they obtained another citizenship. And they didn't, or forgot to, give up their Korean citizenship in time before they turned 18 and became eligible for conscription.
Unless one was smuggled out of country for adoption, his Korean citizenship should have been renounced as a part of the process. Then Korea won't be able to conscript someone who is 100% foreign citizen.
Because adoptees are still 'of Korean blood', there's an exception clause under which they are given an option of 'restoring' Korean citizenship without giving up the other, provided they make legal oath to abide by all laws as Korean nationals including conscription. Age upper limit for conscription is, however, 37 now. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Engrish Mufffin
Joined: 09 Jun 2013
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Jake_Kim wrote: |
'I have U.S. citizenship but I got conscripted by Korean military'-type stories, if true, stem from an untold underlying fact that they or their parents haven't done a proper paperwork to sort out their nationality.
In principle, Korea does not allow dual citizenship, despite of the recent minor amendments to its nationality law. Those kids had to have been Korean nationals from birth by blood, declared and registered so on national registry, whether or not they obtained another citizenship. And they didn't, or forgot to, give up their Korean citizenship in time before they turned 18 and became eligible for conscription.
Unless one was smuggled out of country for adoption, his Korean citizenship should have been renounced as a part of the process. Then Korea won't be able to conscript someone who is 100% foreign citizen.
Because adoptees are still 'of Korean blood', there's an exception clause under which they are given an option of 'restoring' Korean citizenship without giving up the other, provided they make legal oath to abide by all laws as Korean nationals including conscription. Age upper limit for conscription is, however, 37 now. |
Those are gyopos. Adopted Koreans are adopted by another family and maintain the citizenship of their parents and lose their previous one if I'm not mistaken. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jake_Kim
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Engrish Mufffin wrote: |
| Those are gyopos. Adopted Koreans are adopted by another family and maintain the citizenship of their parents and lose their previous one if I'm not mistaken. |
That's how it 'should be' normally, but there were reported cases where adoptive parents neglected citizenship paperwork post-adoption and the adopted child grew up without realizing it, then decades later he gets deported back to Korea.
Extremely rare compared to the total number of adoption, but not non-existent. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
While I do not agree with the korean elected officials who make the laws on this draft issue...
one should not come back, live in or endevour them-self of the countries resources for whatever reason and then not want to join the military.
The military is not for everyone...but..we all can't be in the parade and just wave. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
What you have to do is dig up any paperwork you have. In particular you are looking for your Hoju (호주), but bring everything you have and go to the Korean consulate. You'll have to renounce any claims to Korean citizenship, if there are any, and affirm your American citizenship. Then you can go right ahead and do whatever. Do all of this in America. Hopefully your parents or you were good record keepers.
Best of luck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
