Korean Job Discussion Forums

taegu girl · Joined: 20 Apr 2004 Location: California

hi! although i don't write on here much, i am a regular reader of the forum. Here is the situation. My husband (korean) and I (american) are currently living in the USA. After our baby is born, we would like for the child to have dual citizenship. I know after 18 they have to choose between the 2 coutries. Also the baby will be a boy. Does this mean if we get him korean citizenship , there is a remote possibility of him having to serve in the korean army or will he be exempt as the child will not be a "full" korean? DOes anyone know what the procedure is to get korean citizenship for a baby while living in the US? Is it the same as a regular korean couple who has a baby in the US? If this has already been discussed, please direct me to the previous link. ALso, if my husband decides to change his citizenship (which is a high possibility because of the field of work he is in- engineering-easier to find jobs as an american citizen) , does this mean that the baby can lose korean citizenship? Any answers or direct links would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

This is just my opinon and nothing else. Take it for what it is worth...

I had a son here in Korea and I wish the birth would have taken place back in the states for the simple fact of military service. If you have your son get Korean citizenship now, he might be forced to serve in the military here in Korea even after he renounced his Korean citizenship after the age of 18. While this may not happen, save your kid the headache now.

Your son can easily get a F2 visa or even another one that allows him to visit Korean relatives (I cant remember the correct codes for these two visas off-hand). Both of these almost gives him all the rights of a Korean citizen (basically the same rights would be removed if the roles were reversed Korea/USA).

Also, I believe and do not quote me on this, that since you husband is a Korean national, your son can even switch his citizenship from American to Korean even after the age of 18 even if he has never had Korean citizenship, just becuase your husband is Korean. Koreans like for people of their blood to come back to the homeland Very Happy

Hopes this helps.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

Maybe you could check with the Korean embassy in America to get the papers and information you need.

Ody · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: over here

Congratulations!

our son was born in the US in '98. in 2002, we moved to Korea.

as far as i know, applying for our son's Korean citizenship took the gathering of family documents (wedding/birth certificates, etc.) and a trip to a Korean records office. we had to pay a late fee (maybe 50,ooo W?). i believe the only difference with our daughter (born here) was there was no fee.

edit: it's true that to avoid army service. citizenship must be renounced before he turns 18.

taegu girl · Joined: 20 Apr 2004 Location: California

Ody,
thanks for the information. Much appreciation. i knew that there must be someone here on this board that would know the answer. I had looked at the korean embassy website but there was no information regarding this matter just the application. Actually i used to live in korea for 4 years but i had never heard or read about it being done from the USA- only done while inside Korea.

jaebea · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Location: SYD

I've heard some rumblings that if you're in the family register, even if you are not a Korean citizen, you can be nabbed for service.

I think this is just rumour and scare-mongering, but really, best be safe than sorry.

I renounced my citizenship when I was pretty young so it doesn't really impact on my life. Because my father changed too, I don't have much of a chance of reverting. Not that I'd want to.. :)

jae.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

I know I will get some negative feedback, so be it...
But why would you want your child to have korean citizenship!?!?
What advantage does it have?
Spare the child the future abuse he/she will suffer. Especially it the baby is a male. One example is military service. Military service is a good thing, but not in korea!
Maybe in the future, koreans and the country as a whole will be more tolerable of mixed races, but not at this time. Just look around you and you'll see the difficulties that "Kypos" have in trying to get decent paying jobs, etc., let alone mixed race folks.
Very few people in korea that are mixed race have been successful. Can you name 5?
That's great that someone is able to have duel citizenship but it all depends on the country!