By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter
Opposition lawmakers have been adamantly against the government's proposal to allow dual citizenships in Korea, saying loopholes need to be closed before approving it.
They say the measure opens doors for those, who have abandoned Korean citizenship in order to avoid mandatory military duty, to have dual citizenship after passing 35 years of age ― the upper limit for conscription.
"It would be unfair for those who have already deserted Korean citizenship to be able to retrieve it, considering that many had to renounce their foreign citizenship to fulfill the military duty," Rep. Lee Chun-seok of the main opposition Democratic Party said.
Under the proposed legislation, those who have lost Korean nationality by failing to renounce foreign citizenship during a nationality selection period are eligible to apply for dual citizenship.
Currently, those who have acquired both Korean and foreign citizenships before turning 20 must choose one nationality before turning 22 and those who have become dual nationality holders after turning 20 should renounce one nationality within two years.
Those who fail to adhere to the rule automatically lose Korean citizenship.
In response, the government plans to draw up measures to screen military dodgers from obtaining multiple citizenship.
Last December, the government also had to revise the bill to prevent so-called "anchor babies" -- whose mothers deliberately give birth in a country offering birthright citizenship -- from receiving dual citizenship.
The administration faced mounting criticism when it made public a draft bill that would have allowed people to have multiple citizenships because of their place of birth.
Under the bill, which is expected to be put to a vote at the National Assembly early this year, multiple citizenship will be allowed for Koreans who meet certain conditions, upon the submission of a document pledging loyalty to Korea.
Exceptionally talented foreign nationals and those married to Korean nationals will also be eligible to apply for dual citizenship on the condition that they do not exercise their rights as a foreign national while staying here.
Foreigners who have been naturalized here will not be mandated to serve in the military, even if they gain dual citizenship.