South Korean nationality law

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(Redirected from Dual citizenship in South Korea)

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 usually compelled 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, which does not automatically remove the names of former South Korean nationals, without their knowledge^[1]