No male child of a diplomat reported with a foreign nationality kept sole Korean citizenship
In short
Foreign ministry data submitted to the National Assembly shows that as of September, 63 children of incumbent foreign service officers aged 19 or older were reported as holding a foreign nationality, and none of the men among them ended up holding only South Korean nationality. Three men held a foreign nationality alone, and one woman held only South Korean nationality. The ministry declined to say when or why the three men lost Korean nationality, citing privacy.
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As of September, 63 children of incumbent foreign service officers aged 19 or older were reported as holding a foreign nationality, and none of the men among them was reported to hold only South Korean nationality, according to foreign ministry data submitted to the National Assembly. Yonhap reported that the data was released by Rep. Kim Dae-sik of the People Power Party, the opposition floor negotiator on the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun reported the same core finding in their headlines. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Of the 63, 59 held a foreign nationality together with South Korean nationality, three men held only a foreign nationality, and one woman held only South Korean nationality, according to the same data. Under Article 15 of the Nationality Act, a South Korean national who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses South Korean nationality, so holding a sole foreign nationality means the person gave up Korean citizenship. A person without South Korean nationality does not bear military service duty. [ 2 ]
Asked about the military service status of the male children reported with a foreign nationality, the foreign ministry said that under the law on the reporting and disclosure of military service matters for public officials, changes in the service records of those subject to disclosure — male children of public officials aged 18 or older — are checked and managed by the Military Manpower Administration. Asked when and why the three men came to hold a sole foreign nationality, the ministry said it could not provide the information, asking for understanding on the grounds of protecting personal information and privacy. [ 2 ]
Looking beyond age to all family members of foreign service officers, 242 cases were reported of spouses or children holding a foreign nationality — 60 spouses and 182 children. By country, the United States accounted for 133 cases, followed by Russia with 13, China with 10, Germany with 8, and Japan, Canada and France with 6 each. [ 2 ]
Under the Foreign Service Officials Act, a person without South Korean nationality cannot become a foreign service officer, and an officer violates the law by merely holding a foreign permanent residency, but family members' acquisition of a foreign nationality is subject to a reporting system rather than a permission system, leaving relatively more discretion, Yonhap reported. Rep. Kim said that for ordinary citizens nationality is not a choice but life itself, while in diplomatic families South Korean nationality is treated as one option among several, adding that there should be at least a minimum oversight mechanism when a diplomat whose family holds the nationality of a negotiating counterpart takes charge of work involving that country. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The figures touch on two sensitive issues for South Korean readers — military service duty and the citizenship choices of diplomatic families — as a lawmaker presses for oversight. The documents indicate the ministry answered by pointing to existing reporting rules rather than providing the requested details, so what follows from the data remains unresolved.
Key facts
- As of September, 63 children of incumbent foreign service officers aged 19 or older were reported as holding a foreign nationality, according to foreign ministry data submitted to the National Assembly. [ 2 ]
- Of those 63, 59 held a foreign nationality together with South Korean nationality, three men held only a foreign nationality, and one woman held only South Korean nationality. [ 2 ]
- No male adult child of a diplomat reported with a foreign nationality was reported to hold only South Korean nationality. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Under Article 15 of the Nationality Act, a South Korean national who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses South Korean nationality, and a person without South Korean nationality does not bear military service duty. [ 2 ]
- Across all ages, 242 cases were reported of spouses or children of foreign service officers holding a foreign nationality — 60 spouses and 182 children. [ 2 ]
- By country, the reported cases were the United States with 133, Russia with 13, China with 10, Germany with 8, and Japan, Canada and France with 6 each. [ 2 ]
- Rep. Kim Dae-sik of the People Power Party, the opposition floor negotiator on the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, released the data and called for a minimum oversight mechanism. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- No male adult child of a current foreign service officer reported as holding a foreign nationality was reported to hold only South Korean nationality, according to foreign ministry data submitted to the National Assembly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The foreign ministry data states that of the adult children of foreign service officers reported with a foreign nationality, most held dual nationality with South Korea while three men held only a foreign nationality. [ 2 ]
Still unclear
- When and why the three men with sole foreign nationality lost or gave up South Korean nationality. Yonhap reported that the foreign ministry declined to provide the timing or reasons, citing the protection of personal information and privacy.
- The military service status of the male children reported with a foreign nationality. The ministry said that under the law on the reporting and disclosure of military service matters for public officials, changes in the service records of those subject to disclosure are checked and managed by the Military Manpower Administration, and did not give a status.
- Whether the reported figures cover all diplomatic families or only those captured by the reporting system. Yonhap reported that family members' acquisition of a foreign nationality is subject to a reporting system rather than a permission system; the documents do not state whether all cases are reported.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo publishes its report that no male child of a diplomat reported with a foreign nationality holds sole South Korean nationality. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap publishes the foreign ministry data and Rep. Kim Dae-sik's comments, including the figure of 63 adult children reported with a foreign nationality. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Shinmun publishes its report on the same finding. [ 3 ]