The amendment of the Nationality Act proposed by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has caused controversy, with more than 300,000 individuals signing an appeal in opposition to the revision. The MOJ introduced the Nationality Law Amendment Bill in April, explaining that this revision would make it simpler for foreign children who are permanently living in Korea to gain Korean citizenship. The controversy over this legislation stems from doubts that the government may be favoring Chinese nationals.
The MOJ’s plans to revise the Nationality Law Amendment Bill for the children of foreigners who have lived in Korea for several years have caused outrage among Korean citizens. The MOJ believes that this amendment will solve the problems of declining birth rate and aging society. This is evidenced by the census data on the fertility rate and death rate which shows that children who will be granted a citizenship will secure a growth in the future by increasing South Korea’s working populace. This is because the amendment allows children who have been born and lived in Korea for some time or whose parents have been residents in Korea for generations to gain Korean citizenship.
With this, Koreans feel threatened by the idea of the government granting Korean citizenship to foreigners. Many opponents presume that this amendment is a scheme to give advantages regarding social welfare and healthcare to Chinese residents in Korea. However, others argue that the amendment is reasonable considering the number of years that the parents of foreign children have spent in Korea.
The concerns of Koreans are understandable because out of the 3,930 people who are eligible for citizenship, 3,725 of them come from Chinese lineage which means that there are more of them awaiting Korean citizenship. Moreover, the claims by some Chinese that kimchi and hanbok belong to China only add to the anti-Chinese flame. However, the opposition made on this law is not just based on anti-Chinese sentiment or China's cultural appropriation but because of potential loopholes and the consequent adverse effect it can have on Korean society. One of these loopholes is that the law might favor the Chinese by granting them the same benefits given to Korean nationals and another is the possibility of the foreigners discarding the citizenship once they are required to fulfill military service.
To address this growing apprehension, the Korean government must work with the MOJ and the media to appease the angry citizens and help them truly understand the intentions of the amendment. This can be done by persuading the people on why the amendment is necessary for the future of South Korea. In addition, the government should make sure that foreigners who are considering on obtaining a citizenship to abide by their obligations.
Without appropriate and timely discussion of the issue, there is no way to get the public onside. Solutions to overcome the opposition to the amendment, such as denying claims of favoritism toward China, securing labor pool growth, and establishing stability, may not be foolproof. The government should learn to listen to its citizens through public hearings and hold public debates, listening to both sides of the argument to determine whether to bestow the same benefits enjoyed by the Korean nationals to foreigners obtaining Korean citizenship. Some of the benefits that are granted to Korean nationals are the availability of credit and mortgages as well as voting power.
Koreans’ concern is on foreigners enjoying these benefits once they are given Korean citizenship. Although it may not be clear what the government’s purpose is, as a democratic nation, people have the right to protest to the government or its lawmaking bodies, especially when they feel threatened. Thus, revisions like these must not be passed hastily but should be well-thought-out and consider all of the possible outcomes once they are passed into law.