Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

U.S. expatriate chooses S Korean nationality for two sons
Jeffrey Jones, former head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), spoke out on Friday on why he has decided for his two sons to have South Korean citizenship.

"I've lived in South Korea for over 30 years making money and receiving benefits. It wouldn't be appropriate to have my two sons give up their citizenship just to avoid military conscription," Jones told a seminar hosted by the Korea Employers Federation at a Seoul hotel.
Yonhap News (June 17, 2005)
http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20050617/420200000020050617161118E1.html

[turtlepi1]

Odd...I assume they will hold dual citizenship.
Since the issue seems to be military service and that is something THEY can give up before they turn 18, isn't this just a publicity stunt or working himself into some political will?

Hopefully it was for the right reasons. Otherwise using his family like this is disgusting.

*Shrug*

[Real Reality]

"...a seminar hosted by the Korea Employers Federation at a Seoul hotel."

What is the pay for seminar speakers these days?

[ChimpumCallao]

[turtlepi1]

[hellofaniceguy]

It should NOT be HIS choice. It should be his sons choice. He just wants to make some brownie points with koreans.

[stalinsdad]

hell you got that one right!

Funny how expats become more Korean than the Koreans.
Even funnier that they're despised by both.

I understand that Fiona(piona) has given up her British citizenship, funny as she is clearly a Russian or Eastern European.

Fine if you want to give it up, but don't go around fooling others.

[Cedar]

Many people replying to this thread must not read the newspapers. The law has recently changed. 18 is not the law anymore. The law is, if you didn't give up the Korean part of dual citizenship as of about 3 weeks ago, you are not able to give it up until AFTER you've done the military service.

And I think his decision was principled and the decision of Koreans who make their kids who were born in the US on a "I'm pregnant lets deliver in the US to get citizenship for our kid" but otherwise have no connection or allegiance to the country become US citizens and ONLY that are the ones who are screwed up.

[Gopher]

[deleted]

[candu]

My son is a dual citizen. Because his father is Canadian and his mother Korean, he does not fall under the terms of the recent dual nationality revisions. (All those involved are children of two Korean parents, born overseas.) Furthermore, as a mixed-race child, by son is excluded from military service here, along with orphans, the mentally disabled, etc. Even should my son opt for Korean citizenship once he turns 18, they wouldn't even let him serve in the military. While I'm not enthusiastic about the prospect of my son being a soldier, I think it is a real slap in the face that in spite of being born in Korea, his Korean passport, etc. he is already regarded as a second class citizen. (He's too young to understand these things, but it makes me angry just to think about it.) I think this fact will influence his citizenship choice down the road, just as much if not more, than the issue of military service.

[stalinsdad]

Wrong Gopher-You can serve in the Israeli forces as a jew in America, without losing nationality.

[Gopher]

[deleted]

[Gopher]

[deleted]

[just because]

You are all forgetting...

They are his sons.....he may do as he wishes as to what nationality he wants them to be even though i don't agree with his decision either...

If they were your children and people were commenting on a message board about how stupid a decision you made(just look at the cute baby = free money thread for some idiotic opinions by people without children) I'm sure you wouldn't be too happy...

You don't know what is best in every situation.....

[Real Reality]