South Korean nationality law

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The Government of the Republic of Korea does not permit dual citizenship after the age of 21. Foreign citizens of Korean descent who hold dual citizenship under South Korean law and work or study in South Korea are legal obliged by the Republic of Korea to choose one or the other nationality soon after reaching that age.

In addition, South Korean men over the age of 18, including foreign citizens of Korean descent, are subject to compulsory military service. From a law that is effective since 2005, a dual national may not be allowed to abandon his Republic of Korea nationality until he finishes his military service, or has received a special exemption from military service. In several cases, men of South Korean descent holding a U.S. citizenship visiting from overseas have been drafted upon visiting the country, despite having never been there before and not having Korean citizenship. At least two of the aforementioned cases have involved individuals whose names had been recorded on the Korean Family Census Register (See Hoju), which does not automatically remove the names of former South Korean nationals, without their knowledge[1]

[edit] New development

Accoding to a senior Justice Ministry official, the South Korean Government plans to legalize dual citizenship for South Koreans who have acquired another nationality, as well as foreigners who have married a Korean or lived in South Korea for five years.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/10/116_54583.html

A revised nationality law was passed on 21st April 2010 by the Korean National Assembly. It will go into effect on 1st January 2011 and gives a limited number of groups dual citizenship.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Consular Information Sheet:Korea, Republic of". Travel.state.gov. http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1018.html. Retrieved 2008-04-24. 

[edit] See also

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korean_nationality_law"
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