Double Up

Exciting news!  Maybe not real news, but it's new to me.  I just found out that I am eligible for dual citizenship!  I can be a citizen of both the United States and Korea.  Previously (before 2010? I'm not sure exactly when this happened.  I have to research the timeline more) dual citizenship wasn't an option for anyone.  There were and are visa options for ethnic Koreans that were adopted in America, foreign spouses of Korean nationals, and children with Korean and foreign parents.  Those options still exist, but now does the option of dual citizenship.

Previously, if an ethnic Korean or foreign spouse wanted Korean citizenship, they had to renounce their original citizenship.  Not something I'd be interested in doing.  Now, as part of the process, you have to take an oath saying that while in Korea, you give up your rights as a foreigner.  Basically, if you get in trouble with the law, you can't go to your embassy for help because you are being counted as Korean while in Korea.  While outside of Korea, you can be counted as a citizen of your home country again.

Dual citizenship has some perks.  As a foreign teacher here, these are not so relevant.  As a foreign spouse who is looking to do something other than teach, they are nicer.

• Taking out loans and owning property will be easier if you were a citizen.
• 2 passports(!) and the visa privileges that go with them.  Cheaper Chinese visas for Korean citizens as opposed to more expensive ones for US citizens.
• Getting to use the short immigration line at the airport(!!!)
• Other things made easier by not having the "foreigner" label attached to you.

There are some drawbacks, too.  While gaining the perks of being a Korean, you'd also lose some perks of being a foreigner.

• Some scholarships to study in Korea are only available to foreigners.  
• If you are in trouble, you can't go to your original country's embassy for help.
• Since you are not a foreigner, any children you have in Korea won't be eligible for an international school.

Then there's the big drawback if you're planning on being an English teacher:  All of the bonuses perks that you'd get for being a foreign teacher can go away.  Housing allowance: gone.  High salary: gone.  Re-signing bonus: gone.  NOTE: I'm not 100% sure of this, but it seems very possible that it could happen.  Most of it would depend on if you are working at a public school or an academy.  You might not even be eligible for some jobs because you are technically not a foreigner anymore.  

Dual citizenship sounds like a cool thing but it is more than just having two passports.  You get the rights of citizens in either country, but also have to bear the responsibilities.  In Korea's case there is a mandatory military service requirement for all able bodied male citizens.  Dual citizenship can complicate this for many people.  For my situation being a foreign spouse, I would not need to enter military service.  For a male with dual nationality who tries to renounce Korean citizenship in order to dodge military service, the rules are stricter.  Now, a male citizen who is trying to renounce his Korean citizenship after the age of 18 cannot unless he has fulfilled his duty.   

I think maybe in the future If we decide to stay in Korea long(er) term and I work somewhere other than a school, dual citizenship might be for me.  As for now, I have the benefits of the mighty F-6 spousal visa and am content with that.  I can even use a short line at the airport, just not the citizens line.  Visas like the spousal visa, long term resident visa, and ethnic Korean adopted to another country visa give many of the conveniences but not as many of the responsibilities of being a full fledged citizen.  They are a happy medium.