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.

Ms. Bae, a 30-year-old housewife living in Seocho, Seoul, 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 learning 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 (over VND3.3 billion), are becoming a top choice. “Vanuatu is one of the most popular destinations because the application process is quick and there is no residency requirement,” said Mr. Cho, director of an immigration consultancy in Seoul.

Ms. Chang, another parent in Busan, shared that many families chose to give birth abroad or apply for citizenship from Pacific nations to ensure their children had the best education environment. “Some people criticize parents like us, but it is a personal choice. As long as it does not violate the law, it should be respected,” Ms. Chang affirmed.

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 the authorities and the public in Korea.

Legal risks

Vanuatu’s visa “selling” 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 the security risks associated with the visa-free regime. This proposal was made based on the EC’s ongoing efforts to control irregular migration and address the security risks arising from the visa-free regime, particularly related to the citizenship-by-investment programs 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 threaten the security of the European Union (EU) and its member states.

Although the Vanuatu government has made some legislative changes to meet EU requirements, the EC believes that these measures are not sufficient to fully mitigate the risks associated with the country’s citizenship-by-investment program. 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 EU Council to consider the proposal and make 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 Yulsaseojae Law Firm, the current Korean Nationality Law does not prohibit 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 Korea’s Departures Act, they must register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but there is no strict oversight of their operations. False advertising or charging illegal fees is 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 between 2019 and 2022, 18 people gave up their Korean citizenship to acquire 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 consider 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