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Visiting S. Korea (military service question) - Page 2

Blogs > billy5000
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 All
nullmind
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
1303 Posts
March 14 2012 19:43 GMT
#21
I think best thing to do right now is to go to your local consulate general of SK and ask them procedure. I believe you need to get a document or a stamp in your passport saying you are exempt to serve in SK army. I think this is the most important thing. I remember having to get that stamped on my new passport when I had to renew it.
rotinegg
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States1719 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-03-14 20:48:40
March 14 2012 20:43 GMT
#22
On March 15 2012 03:55 MaRiNe23 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 15 2012 03:41 rotinegg wrote:
On March 15 2012 03:19 MaRiNe23 wrote:
Just delay your service for two years. That's what I did and I had no issue at all and I was there just last summer. My mom was also scared so I couldnt go to korea for 5-6 years cuz of this same issue but all u have to do is delay. And after the 2 years are done and u wanna go again just delay for 2 years again.

edit: Oh, but I'm dual citizeship though..I'm not sure about residents of the U.S.

you can only delay until you are 24... after that you need proof of grad school to delay: a masters program gets you delayed til 26 and Ph.D. til 28. After that there is no way to delay any more, you either go or don't go back to korea til you're 37

wow..this is the first time I heard this. While I was in korea all my relatives made it seem like I can keep on delaying. So this holds true even if I denounce my korean citizenship?


On March 15 2012 04:12 Golgotha wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 15 2012 03:41 rotinegg wrote:
On March 15 2012 03:19 MaRiNe23 wrote:
Just delay your service for two years. That's what I did and I had no issue at all and I was there just last summer. My mom was also scared so I couldnt go to korea for 5-6 years cuz of this same issue but all u have to do is delay. And after the 2 years are done and u wanna go again just delay for 2 years again.

edit: Oh, but I'm dual citizeship though..I'm not sure about residents of the U.S.

you can only delay until you are 24... after that you need proof of grad school to delay: a masters program gets you delayed til 26 and Ph.D. til 28. After that there is no way to delay any more, you either go or don't go back to korea til you're 37


yeah but what if your are a u.s. citizen and not a SK citizen anymore. then you can go to korea anytime you want.

yea in that case you can, but they passed a law that prohibits dual citizens from giving up their korean citizenship. There's a small technicality where if one of your parents holds at least a green card to that same country, you can give up your citizenship by December 31st of the year you turn 17 non-Korean age, but that does not apply if both your parents are strictly Korean citizens. I was born with both citizenships and neither of my parents hold a US green card, so I couldn't give up my Korean citizenship. Marine23, I believe different rules apply also depending on whether you were born with a dual citizenship or you earned it after you were born.
Translator
Telcontar
Profile Joined May 2010
United Kingdom16710 Posts
March 14 2012 20:46 GMT
#23
Do you have indefinite leave to remain (permanent residency) in the US? If you do, military service is pushed back automatically until you're 37 (or around there). Afterwards, you get a permanent exemption. However, if you're outside of the US for a certain period of time, you will forfeit your ILR and be required to serve in the korean army. This differs for all countries, so you'll have to contact immigrations to find out. 3 months should be absolutely fine though. I should also note that the korean army runs a program where they encourage ILR holders to actively do their service by providing flights to ensure you don't forfeit your IRL. I think with some countries they actually strike a deal so that you're exempt from IRL forfeiture, as long as you're serving in the army. Just something to think about if you're ever interested in doing it.
Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta.
rotinegg
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States1719 Posts
March 14 2012 20:55 GMT
#24
Also, make sure you enter and leave Korea with a Korean passport, because they can fine you tens of thousands of dollars if you don't. The law was passed January 1st, 2011, so it is quite recent and not many people are aware of it. I had to make one this past winter cuz I always used my US passport in the past.
Translator
Golgotha
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Korea (South)8418 Posts
March 14 2012 21:01 GMT
#25
On March 15 2012 05:43 rotinegg wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 15 2012 03:55 MaRiNe23 wrote:
On March 15 2012 03:41 rotinegg wrote:
On March 15 2012 03:19 MaRiNe23 wrote:
Just delay your service for two years. That's what I did and I had no issue at all and I was there just last summer. My mom was also scared so I couldnt go to korea for 5-6 years cuz of this same issue but all u have to do is delay. And after the 2 years are done and u wanna go again just delay for 2 years again.

edit: Oh, but I'm dual citizeship though..I'm not sure about residents of the U.S.

you can only delay until you are 24... after that you need proof of grad school to delay: a masters program gets you delayed til 26 and Ph.D. til 28. After that there is no way to delay any more, you either go or don't go back to korea til you're 37

wow..this is the first time I heard this. While I was in korea all my relatives made it seem like I can keep on delaying. So this holds true even if I denounce my korean citizenship?


Show nested quote +
On March 15 2012 04:12 Golgotha wrote:
On March 15 2012 03:41 rotinegg wrote:
On March 15 2012 03:19 MaRiNe23 wrote:
Just delay your service for two years. That's what I did and I had no issue at all and I was there just last summer. My mom was also scared so I couldnt go to korea for 5-6 years cuz of this same issue but all u have to do is delay. And after the 2 years are done and u wanna go again just delay for 2 years again.

edit: Oh, but I'm dual citizeship though..I'm not sure about residents of the U.S.

you can only delay until you are 24... after that you need proof of grad school to delay: a masters program gets you delayed til 26 and Ph.D. til 28. After that there is no way to delay any more, you either go or don't go back to korea til you're 37


yeah but what if your are a u.s. citizen and not a SK citizen anymore. then you can go to korea anytime you want.

yea in that case you can, but they passed a law that prohibits dual citizens from giving up their korean citizenship. There's a small technicality where if one of your parents holds at least a green card to that same country, you can give up your citizenship by December 31st of the year you turn 17 non-Korean age, but that does not apply if both your parents are strictly Korean citizens. I was born with both citizenships and neither of my parents hold a US green card, so I couldn't give up my Korean citizenship. Marine23, I believe different rules apply also depending on whether you were born with a dual citizenship or you earned it after you were born.


oh damn. that applies to me....both my koreans are kr citizens and hold a US green card. am I screwed? im only a kr citizen right now at age 22
coffecup
Profile Joined January 2012
50 Posts
March 14 2012 21:02 GMT
#26
Just call the embassy. Pretty sensitive stuff given the potential to be draft-pwned by the SK army. I renounced my dual-citizenship prior to the new laws, but I plan to give the SK embassy a call anyway prior to any trip I decide to take to SK in the future.
rotinegg
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States1719 Posts
March 14 2012 22:51 GMT
#27
Honestly, I only know the laws that apply specifically to innate dual citizens whose parents have no green card in another country, as that is my exact situation. Answers for other cases can be found on naver's 지식인. Here are some key terms you should know searching around:

이중국적/복수국적 - dual citizenship/multiple citizenship
선천적/후천적 복수국적 - innate/acquired multiple citizenship
영주권 - green card
병역 미필자 - one who hasn't served the military yet
병역 기피자 - one who has purposely avoided military duty
체류기간 - amount of stay
신검/신체검사 - physical examination (required before you are 24)
국민처우 - waiving your right to be tried as a foreigner for the right to work and have insurance like a Korean citizen.
영리활동 - business activities
Translator
billy5000
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States865 Posts
March 14 2012 23:59 GMT
#28
Thanks for the response guys. I'll contact a consulate in the future, sometime before visiting SK. God I never knew it would be this complicated. Well, now I understand why my mom and sister visited SK without me when I was about 18 QQ. Better safe than sorry I guess.
Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder, 'Why, why, why?' Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand. Vonnegut
phosphorylation
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States2935 Posts
March 15 2012 00:07 GMT
#29
Bit off-topic, but what if I was born in Korea moved to US when i was 8 and gained US citizenship at age 18.

Would I have any problems visiting and staying in korea?
Buy prints of my photographs at Redbubble -> http://www.redbubble.com/people/shoenberg3
MightyAtom
Profile Blog Joined June 2004
Korea (South)1897 Posts
March 15 2012 01:39 GMT
#30
On March 15 2012 09:07 phosphorylation wrote:
Bit off-topic, but what if I was born in Korea moved to US when i was 8 and gained US citizenship at age 18.

Would I have any problems visiting and staying in korea?


You're most at risk for an unpleasant surprise. go visit the consulate.
Administrator-I am the universe- Morihei Ueshiba
Wala.Revolution
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
7582 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-03-15 05:54:01
March 15 2012 05:53 GMT
#31
MAKE SURE you review every detail. You do not want to be served with a warrant as you arrive then be gone for two years.

That happens. Check your facts, talk to officials and prepare for any problem that might arise (including those at the time you wish to leave South Korea). Better to ask officials obvious questions and annoy them (it's their job) then to be dragged off.
Stuck.
phosphorylation
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States2935 Posts
March 15 2012 07:00 GMT
#32
On March 15 2012 10:39 MightyAtom wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 15 2012 09:07 phosphorylation wrote:
Bit off-topic, but what if I was born in Korea moved to US when i was 8 and gained US citizenship at age 18.

Would I have any problems visiting and staying in korea?


You're most at risk for an unpleasant surprise. go visit the consulate.

THat's what I was worried about.

Seems quite ridiculous though, as I have lived in US more than half my life...
Buy prints of my photographs at Redbubble -> http://www.redbubble.com/people/shoenberg3
FreeZEternal
Profile Joined January 2003
Korea (South)3396 Posts
July 08 2014 14:59 GMT
#33
Omg, I am sorry I will be reviving this thread. I am in the same situation but the difference is I am a naturalized US Citizen. I've read when you get naturalized you automatically forfeit ROK citizenship. One thing I don't get is how will the Korean government know who you are if you changed your name during naturalization and you use your US passport..
LaNague
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Germany9118 Posts
July 08 2014 17:54 GMT
#34
just ask a specialised attorney?

I was forced into military and you really dont want that under any circumstance. Korea is even worse because they have N Korea as neighbour who sometimes likes to sink ships or mortar bomb places for a bit.
usedtocare
Profile Joined August 2013
United States243 Posts
July 09 2014 16:14 GMT
#35
On July 08 2014 23:59 FreeZEternal wrote:
Omg, I am sorry I will be reviving this thread. I am in the same situation but the difference is I am a naturalized US Citizen. I've read when you get naturalized you automatically forfeit ROK citizenship. One thing I don't get is how will the Korean government know who you are if you changed your name during naturalization and you use your US passport..


They obviously won't know shit? You guys are funny sometimes, unless they have your prints in the database how do you imagine they'd know? You can come in with your US passport and speak English and they will have no idea who you are
FreeZEternal
Profile Joined January 2003
Korea (South)3396 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-07-10 21:43:07
July 10 2014 21:38 GMT
#36
This is some scary shit because I will be going with my kids. The consulate knows shit about this situation. I've never lived in SK for 32 years. I checked the US Embassy warnings and they mention that if you get naturalized (vs being born in US) you automatically forfeit your ROK citizenship. I will take my US naturalization certificate with me just in case. I'm just staying for 20 days.
FreeZEternal
Profile Joined January 2003
Korea (South)3396 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-07-11 14:07:22
July 11 2014 14:06 GMT
#37
Just a final update. Figured out the issue. I called the Embassy in Washington DC. I have to submit a form called 국적상실신고. Basically this form is to renounce your ROK citizenship after you get naturalized in the US. By law, once you get Naturalized your Korean citizenship automatically is gone but the issue is the MMA (Military Manpower Administration) still checks if you are registered and if you are, they don't give a fuck. 국정상실신고 makes sure your name is gone from the Registry.
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