citizenship travel dual-citizenship
Can Korean American men visit South Korea without being drafted?
<p>I've read some things about how Korean American males 18 or older can't visit South Korea between the age of 18 and 35? 38? (inclusive?) without being drafted into the military. South Korea, of course, requires all able male South Korean citizens between the ages of 18 and 28? 35? to serve in the military for 18? 24? months. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korean_nationality_law#Acquisition_of_nationality" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia's article on South Korean nationality law</a> says that one way to automatically acquire South Korean nationality is “By being born to either a South Korean national father or South Korean national mother after 13 June 1998, or to a South Korean national father before then.”  Does this require any registration on the part of your parents/relatives, or is it truly automatic?</p>

<p><a href="https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/The-accidental-citizen-soldier-1141729.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">An article by Seattle Pi from 2004</a> gives an example of someone who was drafted because “it appears a family member -- maybe his paternal grandfather or his father, who is divorced from Chun's mother and lives in South Korea -- entered his name in the nation's family census registry, the hojok.” However, according to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoju" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the Wikipedia article on hoju</a>, it was abolished on January 1, 2008.</p>

<p>It seems that before 2010, South Korean dual citizenship was impossible, so if one were born before 2010 and had ethnically Korean parents who were both American citizens at the time of their birth, that child wouldn't have any chance of automatically being a South Korean citizen?</p>

<p>Is it still true that one would have to rescind their South Korean nationality before the age of 18, and one is unable to do so later?</p>

<p>Does visiting Korea for a short period of time (I've heard 30 days) eliminate the risk of being drafted? Is there any paperwork you can fill out beforehand like you can with Israel?</p>

<p>The relevant laws have been changing quite a bit in the past few decades apparently, so it's hard to tell what information is still true or what's outdated. Please cite reliable sources if you can.</p>

<p>For clarification, I am not in any way Korean, so this question is just out of curiosity and/or for a friend.</p>

<p>(Repost from <a href="https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/149164/can-korean-american-men-visit-south-korea-without-being-drafted">https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/149164/can-korean-american-men-visit-south-korea-without-being-drafted</a> which was closed as it might be a better fit on this site)</p>

<p><a href="https://kr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/frequently-asked-questions/faqs-dualcit/" rel="noreferrer">This FAQ</a> from the US embassy in Korea explains all of the concerns that a Korean-American might have. If you have a Korean lational parent, you are automatically Korean. Before March 31 of the year you turn 18, you must renounce your Korean citizenship, lest you be then subject to the military service law. If you were a Korean citizen and then gained another citizenship, you automatically lose your Korean citizenship, and if you did not complete your military obligation and did not obtain an overseas travel permit, you may be punished if you ever return to Korea. The travel permit lets you postpone military service until age 37, so if you are living overseas, by January 15 of the year you turn 25 you must apply for a travel permit.</p>

<p>The laws are set up so that you must enlist by age 28, but must have obtained a travel permit by age 25. That means if you are abiding by the law, there is no risk of sudden conscription if you're there for a short period (e.g. as a tourist). The risk seems to come from not obtaining a travel permit.</p>
