Seoul to offer dual citizenship to talented foreigners

SEOUL, March 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will offer dual citizenship to foreigners with outstanding talents to help upgrade its national competitiveness by attracting more gifted people from abroad, government officials said Thursday.

The Ministry of Justice said in its plan submitted to the Presidential Council on
National Competitiveness that the government will ease the current regulations on
single nationality to allow talented foreigners the chance to become dual
citizens here, as long as their Korean nationality conforms to the "national
interest."
Under the current law, foreigners must reside here for at least five years,
undergo a state examination and give up their original citizenship within six
months after being naturalized in South Korea.
The revised law would allow any foreigners deemed by the South Korean government
to be sufficiently talented in various fields, including science, economics,
culture and sports, to be exempt from the legal requirements for naturalization,
said the officials.
Guus Hiddink, former Dutch head coach of South Korea's national football team,
and other foreigners who have rendered meritorious service to Korea have been
offered "honorary Korean citizenship" without giving up their original
nationalities, though the status was mostly symbolic in nature as opposed to
legally binding.
The ministry said it is considering setting up an official internal board to
review whether to allow foreign talents to hold dual citizenship at the
recommendation of the justice minister.
The ministry also said it will consult other relevant government bodies before
deciding whether to offer voting rights to foreigners with dual nationality.
"The plan will help talented foreigners remain professionally active in South
Korea without being held back by administrative matters, such as visa renewals,"
a ministry official said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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