Korean parents rush to buy new citizenship because they want their children to attend international schools

Wealthy Korean parents are "rushing" to buy foreign citizenship to send their children to international schools.

The trend of “buying citizenship” in Korea

Vanuatu, a small archipelago of 83 islands in the South Pacific, is known as a paradise for nature lovers. However, the island nation is gaining attention in South Korea for a completely different purpose: buying citizenship for education purposes.

Bae, a 30-year-old housewife living in Seoul’s Seocho district, is considering applying for Vanuatu citizenship to help her four-year-old son attend an international school. “My son is attending an English bilingual kindergarten. I hope he can go to international schools in Korea instead of public schools,” she said, citing the multicultural environment and English-language curriculum as the main reasons.

Korean parents say the multicultural learning environment and English curriculum are the main reasons why their children are accepted into international schools. Photo: AFP.

According to the regulations of the Korean Ministry of Education, children with Korean nationality can only enroll in international schools if one parent has foreign nationality, or the child has lived abroad for at least three years. Currently, immigration consulting companies in Korea are providing services to help parents meet the first condition – one parent has foreign nationality.

“Citizenship by investment” programs from countries like Vanuatu, which require a minimum investment of $130,000, are becoming a top choice. “Vanuatu is one of the most popular destinations because of its fast approval process and no residency requirements,” said Mr. Cho, director of an immigration consultancy in Seoul.

Ms Chang, another Busan parent, said many families have chosen to give birth abroad or apply for citizenship from Pacific nations to ensure their children have the best education. “Some people criticize parents like us, but it is a personal choice. As long as it is not against the law, it should be respected,” Ms Chang said.

Tuition fees at international schools in Korea range from 30 to 40 million won per year, equivalent to the average salary of an office worker. This cost is seen by parents like Ms. Bae as a necessary investment to ensure a better educational future for their children.

Buying citizenship is not only for education purposes but is also being used for other purposes such as tax evasion or avoiding military service. This is the reason why this trend has received great attention from authorities and the public in Korea.

Legal risks

The “selling” of visas by Vanuatu has long been of concern to European authorities. In May 2024, the European Commission (EC) formally proposed the reintroduction of permanent visa requirements for Vanuatu citizens to mitigate security risks associated with the visa-free regime. This proposal builds on the EC’s ongoing efforts to control irregular migration and address security risks arising from the visa-free regime, particularly related to the citizenship-by-investment programmes operated by some visa-free countries.

Citizenship-by-investment programs, often referred to as “golden passports,” have raised concerns about risks such as the infiltration of organized crime, money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption. Since May 2022, the Commission has held several discussions with the Vanuatu government and has assessed that these programs could pose a security threat to the European Union (EU) and its member states.

Although the Vanuatu government has made some legislative changes to meet the EU’s requirements, the EC believes that these measures are not sufficient to fully mitigate the risks associated with the country’s citizenship-by-investment programme. Currently, Vanuatu citizens are required to obtain a visa to enter the EU for short-term visits (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) due to the EC’s previous temporary suspension. The EC’s latest proposal is to make this visa requirement permanent.

The temporary suspension is scheduled to expire on 3 August 2024. Before then, the EC expects the European Parliament and the Council to consider the proposal and take a final decision on permanently revoking the visa-free regime for Vanuatu citizens.

Despite the controversy, the trend of buying citizenship is growing rapidly, especially among high-income parents in South Korea. Photo:IG.

Trade nationality to study at a good school

According to lawyer Kim Hanna of the Yulaseojae Law Firm, the current Nationality Law of Korea does not have any provisions to prevent people from purchasing foreign citizenship. “If we want to prevent this situation, the authorities need to issue new management measures. However, there will always be people who find ways to circumvent the law,” said Ms. Kim.

Immigration consulting firms also operate in a legal gray area. Under South Korea’s Departures Act, they must register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but there is no strict oversight of their business practices. False advertising or illegal fees are prohibited, but if a company advertises with phrases like “international school admission” or “tax savings,” it can be difficult to prosecute.

Despite the controversy, the trend of buying citizenship is growing rapidly, especially among high-income parents in South Korea. Many are willing to give up their Korean citizenship in exchange for better educational benefits for their children. A report from the South Korean Ministry of Justice shows that from 2019 to 2022, 18 people gave up their Korean citizenship to obtain Vanuatu citizenship. This figure is expected to increase as consulting firms expand their operations.

For Ms. Bae, the minimum investment of $130,000 for Vanuatu citizenship is “worth it” when compared to the sky-high cost of private education in South Korea. “Studying at an international school not only helps my child master English but also gives him a big advantage when applying to top universities,” she said.

However, experts warn that parents need to think carefully before making a decision. In the context of current laws with many loopholes, buying citizenship for educational purposes is raising big questions about ethics and responsibility of families.

Source: https://danviet.vn/phu-huynh-han-quoc-do-xo-mua-quoc-tich-moi-vi-muon-con-duoc-hoc-truong-quoc-te-20241128083932213.htm