From Dual to One: How Korean Americans Weigh Their National Belongings

• In Event: 50260 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 1: Belonging, Mobility, and Racialization in Transnational Asian Contexts

Abstract

At birth, second-generation Korean Americans with first-generation South Korean parents acquire dual citizenship through jus soli under U.S. nationality law and jus sanguinis under South Korean law. However, South Korea’s Nationality Act requires individuals with dual citizenship at birth to choose one nationality before turning 20. If they fail to do so, their South Korean citizenship is automatically revoked. Yet, the process is not as easy as it sounds. The transition from dual to single citizenship—somewhat contrary to the global trend of accepting dual nationality—is a particularly careful and deliberate process, especially for Korean American men compared to women. For those who wish to retain U.S. citizenship and renounce their South Korean nationality, the timing of this decision is critical. Failing to renounce South Korean citizenship before the deadline results in mandatory military enlistment, preventing them from relinquishing their South Korean nationality until they have completed their service. As a result, they may inadvertently remain dual citizens, a status that can affect their ability to visit South Korea and influence career opportunities in the United States that require single citizenship. Ultimately, second-generation Korean Americans—alongside their parents—must choose between U.S. and South Korean citizenship. For men, this choice is even more complex, as some may intentionally or unintentionally retain their South Korean nationality rather than opt for U.S. citizenship. This research examines how second-generation Korean Americans navigate this decision-making process, particularly by weighing the rights and obligations associated with each citizenship while managing the complexities of nationality laws and bureaucratic procedures.

Author

• Jinhyuk Kim, University of California-San Diego