It has been suggested that this article be merged with South Korean nationality law. (Discuss) Proposed since August 2024. |
Citizenship of South Korea is granted to qualifying individuals under the South Korean Nationality Act and its fifteen amendments.[2][3][4] Citizenship status reflects the rights, duties, and identity of individuals in relation to the South Korean state.
There are elements of the jus sanguinis principle of citizenship acquisition in South Korean nationality law, as citizenship inheritance is possible for those with a blood relationship to ethnic Koreans.[2] However, the stringency of this standard has been complicated by politics, the effects of globalization, as well as historical patterns of migration.[3][5] Maintaining the balance between the supposed homogeneity of South Korean society and the discourse of progress has proven somewhat tenuous.[6] Despite this, the pliability of citizenship policies in recent years seems to indicate a larger trend that welcomes the addition of select foreigners.
The unique history of Korea, including its division and colonization, have impacted the context in which citizenship is interpreted. Because of this, the year that the South Korean state was established has figured prominently in determining the legitimacy of South Korean nationality, as there was no such thing until 1948. South Korean identity has been formed in reaction to violence and occupation, and the legislative approach to determining who is worthy of belonging has reflected this.[7] Those who are included and excluded from the benefits of citizenship reflect not just the relations between people living in South Korea, but also the South Korean state's relationship to outsiders more broadly.
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