Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rain]

I am a white American and unmarried but I have been here a few years. Is it possible to become a Korean citizen? Have any Americans changed citizenship? What does it involve? Do I need to be married first? fluent in Korean?

[peemil]

You've been playing Sims too much. It's addled your brain. Why on God's earth would you want to?

[ulsanchris]

i've heard that you need to change your name to a korean name.

a few soccer players have gained citizenship.

[Holyjoe]

[Bulsajo]

That lawyer from Busan who sold his soul to Korean marketing- why the heck do I always forget his name? I used to get ESL-lesson spam by the bushel with his face plastered all over the email.

[Rain]

[Derrek]

Koreans get a huge laugh out of my Korean name.

Family name: Park
First name: Sah Nim

They look at me really funny until they shout, "Park Sah Nim" followed by a burst of laughter.

Park Sah Nim means "professor" in Korean.

Most of my English jokes are language-based, and it's fun to crack one in Korean.

[komtengi]

Robert Harley is the lawyer that was mentioned.

As for the language part, you need to sit language and history exams in Korean. So obviously it needs to be pretty good.

[hellofaniceguy]

The Op...either you're hiding from the cops...hiding from something or someone or can't face reality....going from a U.S. citizen to korean!?! You got a screw loose and in that case maybe it's best you do change!!
I have heard of some silly things...but yours beats them! Why degrade yourself? Maybe it's best just to jump into the Han!

[Koreabound2004]

Have to say it, as a Korean citizen, you won't be hated so much around the world

[kangnamdragon]

If someone speaks Korea and lives in Korea, why not become a citizen? It is certainly easier to get a nonteaching job as a Korean citizen isn't it? What exactly would an American be losing? the right to vote every four years?

[Son Deureo!]

Rain, you would need to renounce your U.S. citizenship permanently. That's probably the single biggest downside. If you ever wanted to even visit home, you'd have to apply for a visa. As you might know, they don't make it easy for Koreans to visit the U.S., either.

If you are serious about staying in Korea for life, you might want to also consider the option of going for permenent residency, which would give you pretty much all of the rights of a Korean citizen short of being able to vote without having to renounce your original citizenship. If you're not married to a Korean citizen, I think you'd have to be here for at least 10 years, but if you're not planning on going anywhere anyway, it shouldn't make any difference.

[klaasb]

So if I marry a Korean woman, I will get a Korean citizenship?
or do you get something like a permanent visa?

[krats1976]

[Toby]

Plus, as a Korean, your salary will be less than many foreign teachers and your hours more and your tax will also be more. Plus, you have to work weekends when you are told to for no extra money.

Sounds good to me.