▲ An administrative office in Seoul showing signs related to the restoration of nationality
The Ministry of Justice announced today (August 12) that it will operate an intensive processing period for the restoration of Korean citizenship for overseas Koreans until October.
The current Nationality Act stipulates that foreign nationals who were formerly Korean citizens can reacquire Korean citizenship upon receiving permission for citizenship restoration from the Minister of Justice.
Those who have their South Korean citizenship restored must state their intention to renounce or not exercise their foreign nationality within one year and submit relevant documents to the Ministry of Justice.
The Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice plans to process more than four times the daily average number of cases (totaling 3,973 cases) during the intensive processing period, shortening the average review period for permission from 13 months to 9 months.
To establish a rigorous screening system while shortening processing periods and enhancing professional expertise, the immigration agency is also pursuing the establishment of the Nationalities Screening Office, a dedicated organization exclusively for citizenship reviews.
Applicants for the restoration of citizenship increased by 65.6 percent over four years, rising from 3,069 in 2021 to 5,082 last year.
Last year, 4,037 people were granted the restoration of Korean citizenship, with U.S. citizens accounting for the largest share at 2,586, followed by Canada (656), Australia (133), Japan (131), and New Zealand (118).
Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho stated, "We will continue to improve the screening system to swiftly process naturalization and the restoration of Korean citizenship," adding, "We will also strive to establish a dedicated organization for nationality reviews to deliver prompt and fair immigration policy services that both domestic and foreign nationals can experience firsthand."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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