S Korea seeks conditional recognition of dual nationality

SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean government has drafted legal revisions to adopt multiple citizenship, easing regulations for foreigners seeking to become naturalized Korean citizens, to attract talent from abroad, the government Thursday.

According to the Justice Ministry, it will soon submit a proposal on the revisions to parliament for approval.

The envisioned law allows those who hold foreign passports to hold more than one nationality on condition that they provide written pledges forswearing their rights as foreigners while in the country, including tax exemptions.

Under current law, South Korea does not allow citizens or foreigners living in the country to hold multiple citizenship.

Thus, South Koreans who obtain foreign citizenship through birth or emigration must choose a single nationality by the age of22.

Once they choose foreign citizenship, their South Korean passports are automatically nullified, even without a cancellation process.

The issue has been particularly thorny in South Korea, as foreign citizenship is occasionally used for male citizens to dodge the compulsory military drafts.

"There has been a growing voice need for the revision, as the present law sat as an obstacle in attracting and retaining talented foreigners," an official at the ministry, was quoted as saying to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.

"We hope the revisions will help prevent a brain drain and provide relief measures for the country's low birth rate and its aging society," the official told Yonhap.

According to the justice ministry figures, the number of losing or renouncing their South Korean nationality hit 6,741 between 2004 and October this year, far surpassing the 518 who opted for it.