Government Mulls Policy Change to Prevent Brain Drain

Policymakers are considering allowing dual citizenship in a move to reverse the brain drain. The Ministry of Justice discussed a measure to introduce dual citizenship during a meeting to set a new policy for foreigners on Thursday. It marked the first time that the government has reviewed such a measure. This reflects that the nation can no longer ban citizens from having two citizenships amid globalization and multiculturalism.

A growing number of people are moving from one country to another, prompted by rapid globalization. Some sociologists call these people ``homo nomad.'' According to a recent demographic report, one sixth of the world's population has crossed borders. We can easily realize that we are living in a borderless global community. The number of foreign residents in South Korea has already passed the one-million mark on the back of the influx of migrant workers and foreign wives for farmers.

An increasing number of talented Korean scientists and other professionals are relocating to advanced countries to seek better opportunities. This has caused a brain drain in a country in dire need of talented professionals to improve its national competitiveness and boost its growth potential. The ban on dual citizenship has served as one of deterrents to luring back Korean researchers overseas and foreign professionals into the country.

Government statistics show that 170,000 people have given up Korean citizenship over the last 10 years, while only 50,000 have obtained it. The figures indicate a brain drain of more than 10,000 people every year. According to Samsung Economic Research Institute, 20.2 percent of Koreans acquiring doctorate degrees in science and engineering fields in the United States have settled there in 1992-95. The percentage more than doubled to 46.3 percent in 2000-03.

And South Korea has made little progress in attracting foreign professionals. The country runs the ``Gold Card'' system, under which foreign experts in six technological fields including information technology (IT) and e-business can stay in Korea up to three years. Only 2,976 foreigners have entered the country through the system.

It is regrettable that the nation has failed in a race to invite talented professionals who are one of the most valuable assets to help South Korea join the ranks of developed countries. Policymakers are waking up to the brain drain crisis and now they are even thinking about allowing dual citizenship. In this regard, we need to positively assess the move to ease the strict citizenship regulation.

Discussion about dual citizenship has long been taboo in South Korea as some rich and privileged people have abused dual citizenship to avoid mandatory military service and evade taxes. Officials say the government is studying ways of allowing dual citizenship for foreign professionals and Koreans who have completed military service. It is high time that the administration should ease the citizenship regulation to secure human resources required to sharpen the nation's competitive edge.