Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Typhoon]

This may be of interest to people with kids here who have dual citizenship. I'm glad I am already planning to get out of here because if I wasn't this new regulation would certainly force me to leave.

New Foreign Residency Requirement for Int'l Schools


Only those who have lived abroad for more than three years will be allowed to enter a domestic international school next year, regardless of their citizenship or status. The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology announced the new law regarding the establishment and operation of international schools on Monday.
The regulation says Korean nationals must have resided for more than three years in a foreign country to acquire admission to an international school. Furthermore, only 30 percent of the entrance quota will be allocated to Koreans.

Until now, those holding residential permits for foreign countries or dual nationality have been allowed to enter international schools. This has produced a phenomenon whereby some entrants purchase foreign residence permits solely to enter international school.

Those graduating from such schools can also claim a domestic education by taking 102 hours of Korean language and history classes a year. Also, religious and non-profit organizations along with domestic private school foundations may now establish international schools, where once only foreigners were permitted to found such institutions.

There are currently 46 international schools in Korea, attended by 1,993 local and foreign students.

[Paddycakes]

So this is basically going to kill off most of the Int'l schools like the Robert Holly's schools since 95 percent of their students are full Koreans?

[billybrobby]

I think the schools will be OK because this is a reponse to overcrowding in international schools due to of Koreans who pretend to be from countries like Ecuador which have lax permanent residency requirements. I hate to laugh (not really), but this is such a typically Korean story. It perfectly combines their mania for prestige education with their penchant for rule-bending.

So now we Koreans pretending their American beef is from Korea and their Korean children are from Ecuador. What next?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

"attended by 1,993 local and foreign students"

That's it?!! Are there really so few foreign residents with kids and Koreans who've moved back?

[kprrok]

So does this mean that my daughter, a US citizen who just happens to have lived in Korea her entire life, cannot attend a foreign school just because she has a Korean mother? Damn, that sucks. Oh well, by the time this becomes an issue the rules will have changed again.

[Scotticus]

[NoExplode]

Taught at an ahem, "International School" last year, and the school was 98% Korean. During their free time, lunch, whatever, they all spoke Korean. The only time they'd speak English was in class. So, not much different that a hagwon, except for the great facilities and USD$30,000 tuition. Half the teachers were unqualified, of which you were instructed to lie and say you had X and X qualifications if anyone asks.

Also, the "5-years abroad rule" is just a bribery starting-point. It's there, but all it means is that the father has to pass a white envelope along to the Business Manager of the school.

I'd say 60% of the student body has never stepped foot outside Korea.

[jvalmer]

What's the point for these foreign schools? I thought foreign schools were schools that catered to children of foreigners whose families are planning to eventually return to their country of origin.

[Konglishman]

[T-J]

[T-J]

double fn post

[Typhoon]

If you have a daughter and she has been registered in Korea and another country she will hold dual citizenship until she is 18. In this case she couldn't attend an international unless she was overseas for more than 3 years. Since I have a daughter who would be effected by this if I wasn't leaving I was pretty sure some other posters here may find themselves effected by this new regulation.

If a female is not registered in Korea and only in the non-Koreans country then it sounds like there would be no problem attending an international school as she would not officially be a Korean.

[T-J]

[Typhoon]

No, it is possible for a child to be given a visa because their foreign mother or father has a job in Korea. Then they would be eligible for health insurance just like when two foreigners have a kid here. That is what people who have sons have to do as males are not allowed to have dual citizenship since 2005. So it is possible to skip being "a Korean", but there are a lot of advantages to getting a dual citizenship. I guess these regulations will force people to reconsider getting dual citizenship if it means their kid is going to get stuck in the Korean school system.

[T-J]

Sorry, I don't follow that post. My son has dual citizenship. However he lived in the States for five years so he can attend a foreign school.

Let's pretend for the sake of argument that I (an American) and my wife (a Korean) have a son in Korea.

He has dual citizenship.

Can he or can he not attend a foreign school because he has not met the overseas residency requirement?