The government of the Republic of Korea does not permit dual citizenship after the age of 21. Foreign citizens of Korean descent who hold dual citizenship under South Korean law and work or study in South Korea are usually compelled by the Republic of Korea to choose one or the other nationality soon after reaching that age.

In addition, South Korean men over the age of 18, including foreign citizens of Korean descent, are subject to compulsory military service. A dual national may not be allowed to abandon his Republic of Korea nationality until he finishes his military service, or has received a special exemption from military service. There have been several instances in which young men of Korean descent, who were born in and lived all of their lives in their country of origin, have arrived in the ROK for a tourist visit only to find themselves drafted into the South Korean army. Typically those men were unaware that the South Korean government considered them to be Korean citizens.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Demographics of South Korea
• Government of South Korea
• South Korean law

South Korean law Nationality law