ACT ON THE IMMIGRATION AND LEGAL STATUS OF OVERSEAS KOREANS
Act No. 6015, Sep. 2, 1999
Amended by Act No. 6124, Jan. 12, 2000
Act No. 6307, Dec. 29, 2000
Act No. 6328, Dec. 30, 2000
Act No. 7173, Mar. 5, 2004
Act No. 7768, Dec. 29, 2005
Act No. 7873, Mar. 3, 2006
Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008
Act No. 9140, Dec. 19, 2008
Act No. 10275, May 4, 2010
Act No. 10543, Apr. 5, 2011
Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013
The purpose of this Act is to ensure overseas Koreans the entry into and departure from the Republic of Korea and the legal status therein.
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
The term "overseas Korean" in this Act means a person who falls under any of the following subparagraphs:
| 1. | A national of the Republic of Korea who has acquired the right of permanent residence in a foreign country or is residing in a foreign country with a view to living there permanently (hereinafter referred to as a "Korean national residing abroad"); and |
| 2. | A person prescribed by Presidential Decree from among those who, having held the nationality of the Republic of Korea (including those who had emigrated abroad before the Government of the Republic of Korea was established) or as their lineal descendants, have acquired the nationality of a foreign country (hereinafter referred to as a "foreign nationality Korean"). |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 3 (Scope of Application) |
This Act shall apply with respect to the entry into and departure from the Republic of Korea and the legal status therein of Korean nationals residing abroad and foreign nationality Koreans who have the qualification for sojourn as overseas Korean (hereinafter referred to as the "qualification for sojourn as overseas Korean") from among the qualifications for sojourn under Article 10 of the Immigration Control Act. [This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 4 (Duty of Government) |
The Government shall give necessary support to overseas Korean lest he/she should suffer unfair regulation or treatment in the Republic of Korea.
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 5 (Grant of Qualification for Sojourn as Overseas Korean) |
| (1) | The Minister of Justice may grant qualification for sojourn as overseas Korean to a foreign nationality Korean who intends to engage himself/herself in activities in the Republic of Korea based on his/her application thereto. |
| (2) | Where a foreign nationality Korean has a reason falling under any of the following subparagraphs, the Minister of Justice shall not grant him/her qualification for sojourn as overseas Korean under paragraph (1): Provided, That when a foreign nationality Koran falling under subparagraph 1 or 2 has become 38 years old, the same shall not apply: <Amended by Act No. 10275, May. 4, 2010; Act No. 10543, Apr. 5, 2011> |
| 1. | Where a male who became a multiple national as he was born in a foreign country and acquired a foreign nationality while his lineal ascendants stayed in a foreign country without any purpose of permanent residence in a foreign country, and became a foreigner with a view to evading military service by renouncing the nationality of the Republic of Korea before January 1 of the year when he becomes 18 years old according to obligation of nationality selection of a dual national under the former provisions of Article 12 prior to enforcement of Act No. 7499, the amended Nationality Act; |
| 2. | Where a male of the Republic of Korea became a foreigner with a view to evading military service by acquiring a foreign nationality and by losing the nationality of the Republic of Korea; and |
| 3. | Where it is apprehensive that he may impair the interests of the Republic of Korea, such as national security, maintenance of public order, public welfare and diplomatic relations of the Republic of Korea. |
| (3) | When the Minister of Justice grants a foreign nationality Korean qualification for sojourn as overseas Korean under paragraphs (1) and (2), he/she shall consult with the Minister of Foreign Affairs as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended by Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013> |
| (4) | The requirements for acquisition of qualification for sojourn as overseas Korean and the scope of activities of a person who has acquired such qualification shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 6 (Report of Place of Residence in Korea) |
| (1) | A Korean national residing abroad and a foreign nationality Korean who have entered the Republic of Korea with qualification for sojourn as overseas Korean may, if necessary to be under the application of this Act, fix a place of residence in the Republic of Korea and report the place of residence to the head of an immigration office (hereinafter referred to as the "head of office") or the head of a branch of an immigration office (hereinafter referred to as the "head of a branch office") having jurisdiction over the place of residence. |
| (2) | When the place of residence reported under paragraph (1) is changed, it shall be reported to the head of Si/Gun/Gu within 14 days where the new residence is located, or to the head of office or the head of branch office having jurisdiction over the place of new residence. |
| (3) | The head of office or the head of branch office who has received the report on the change of the place of residence under paragraph (2) shall notify the head of Si/Gun/Gu where the new residence is located and, the head of Si/Gun/Gu, in turn, shall notify the head of office or the head of branch office having jurisdiction over the place of new residence, respectively. |
| (4) | Items to be stated in the report of the domestic place of residence, documents to be attached, and other matters necessary concerning the report procedure shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 7 (Issuance of Report Card of Domestic Place of Residence, etc.) |
| (1) | The head of office or the head of branch office shall grant the report number of the place of residence to a Korean national residing abroad or a foreign nationality Korean who has reported his/her place of residence under Article 6, and shall issue the report card of the place of residence according to the following classification: |
| 1. | Korean national residing abroad: Report card of the domestic place of residence for a Korean national residing abroad; and |
| 2. | Foreign nationality Korean: Report card of the domestic place of residence for a foreign nationality Korean. |
| (2) | Each item of the following subparagraphs shall be mentioned in the report card of domestic place of residence as referred to in paragraph (1): |
| 1. | Report number of the domestic place of residence; |
| 7. | Place of residence in the Republic of Korea, etc. |
| (3) | The head of office or the head of branch office shall draw up and keep the report register of the domestic place of residence and other related documents as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (4) | A person who lost or damaged the report card of domestic place of residence after having received it under paragraph (1) or who is going to receive a reissue of the report card of domestic place of residence by other reasons prescribed by Presidential Decree shall apply for reissue of the report card to the head of office or the head of branch office. |
| (5) | The head of office, the head of branch office, or the head of Si/Gun/Gu may issue a fact certificate of the report of domestic place of residence to a person who has reported the domestic place of residence under Article 6 as prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice. <Amended by Act No. 9140, Dec. 19, 2008> |
| (6) | A person who applies for the issue and reissue of the report card of domestic place of residence under paragraphs (1) and (4), or the issue of the fact certificate of the report of domestic place of residence under paragraph (5) shall pay a fee prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice. |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 8 (Return of Report Card of Domestic Place of Residence) |
When an overseas Korean does not need to possess the report card of domestic place of residence any longer, he/she shall return it to the head of office or the head of branch office within 14 days from the date when such reason arises as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 9 (Relations with Citizen Registration, etc.) |
Where a citizen registration card, a certified copy and abstract of citizen registration, a foreigner registration card, or a fact certificate of foreigner registration is required for various kinds of procedures and business relations, etc. prescribed in Acts and subordinate statutes, a report card of domestic place of residence or a fact certificate of report of domestic place of residence may substitute for each of them.
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 10 (Immigration and Sojourn) |
| (1) | The length of sojourn under qualification for sojourn as overseas Korean shall be up to three years at the longest. <Amended by Act No. 9140, Dec. 19, 2008> |
| (2) | The Minister of Justice may grant permit for extension of the length of sojourn to a foreign nationality Korean who is going to stay continuously in the Republic of Korea exceeding the length of sojourn under paragraph (1) as prescribed by Presidential Decree: Provided, That where there is any reason falling under any subparagraph of Article 5 (2), the same shall not apply. |
| (3) | Where a foreign nationality Korean who has reported the domestic place of residence departs from and reenters the Republic of Korea within the length of sojourn, reentry permit under Article 30 of the Immigration Control Act shall not be required. |
| (5) | Employment and other economic activities of a foreign nationality Korean who has been granted qualification for sojourn as overseas Korean shall be freely permitted to the extent that he/she does not impair social order or economic stability. |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 11 (Real Estate Transactions, etc.) |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 12 (Financial Transactions) |
An overseas Korean who has reported the domestic place of residence, when using domestic financial institution, such as opening deposit account or installment savings account, application of interest rates, deposit and withdrawal, etc., shall have equal rights with a national of the Republic of Korea who is a resident under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act: Provided, That the same shall not apply to Article 18 of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act with respect to the report of capital transactions, etc. [This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 13 (Foreign Exchange Transactions) |
Where a Korean national residing abroad exports payment means falling under any of the following subparagraphs or pays abroad, the Korean national residing abroad shall be equally treated with a foreign nationality Korean in the application of Articles 15 and 17 of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act: | 1. | Proceeds from sale or disposal of the real estate in cases of the disposal by sale or by expropriation of the real estate in the Republic of Korea which has been possessed by a Korean national residing abroad before residing abroad; and |
| 2. | Payment means imported or paid from abroad into the Republic of Korea. |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 14 (Health Insurance) |
Where an overseas Korean who has reported the domestic place of residence stays in the Republic of Korea for at least ninety days, health insurance may be applicable to him/her as prescribed under Acts and subordinate statutes related to health insurance.
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 15 Deleted. <by Act No. 6328, Dec. 30, 2000> |
| Article 16 (Patriots and Veterans Benefit to Persons of Distinguished Services to State, Persons of Distinguished Services to Independence and Their Bereaved Family) |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008]
| Article 17 (Fines for Negligence) |
| (1) | A fine for negligence not more than two million won shall be imposed on a person who has not reported the change of his/her domestic place of residence in violation of Article 6 (2). |
| (2) | A fine for negligence not more than one million won shall be imposed on a person who has not returned his/her report card of domestic place of residence in violation of Article 8. |
| (3) | A fine for negligence under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be imposed and collected by the head of office or the head of branch office as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (4) | through (6) Deleted. <by Act No. 9140, Dec. 19, 2008> |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8896, Mar 14, 2008]
ADDENDUM
This Act shall enter into force three months after the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDA <Act No. 6124, Jan. 12, 2000>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
Articles 2 through 6 Omitted.
ADDENDA <Act No. 6307, Dec. 29, 2000>
| (1) | (Enforcement Date) This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation. |
ADDENDA <Act No. 6328, Dec. 30, 2000>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on January 1, 2001. (Proviso Omitted.)
Articles 2 through 15 Omitted.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 7173, Mar. 5, 2004>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 7768, Dec. 29, 2005>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDA <Act No. 7873, Mar. 3, 2006>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on January 1, 2007. (Proviso Omitted.)
Articles 2 through 8 Omitted.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 8500, Jul. 13, 2007>
This Act shall enter into force three months after the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 8896, Mar. 14, 2008>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 9140, Dec. 19, 2008>
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDA <Act No. 10275, May. 4, 2010>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on January 1, 2011. (Proviso Omitted.)
Articles 2 through 4 Omitted.
ADDENDA <Act No. 10543, Apr. 5, 2011>
| (1) | (Enforcement Date) This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation. |
| (2) | (Applicability) The amended provision of Article 5 (2) shall be applilied to cases of filing applications for qualification for sojourn as overseas Korean on and after this Act enters into force. |
ADDENDA <Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
Articles 2 through 7 Omitted.