US Koreans say dual nationality pledge overlooks birthright, tax hurdles

SEATTLE — President Lee Jae-myung’s plan to lower the age limit for dual citizenship is drawing skepticism from many Korean Americans, who see the pledge as largely symbolic and say it overlooks deeper problems tied to automatic citizenship and tax burdens. At present, Korea permits only overseas Koreans aged 65 or older to hold dual citizenship. Lee said Thursday his administration would review lowering that bar, citing the need to strengthen ties with Korean nationals abroad and respond to longstanding requests from diaspora groups. He also promised better protections for Koreans overseas and improvements to voting access. But online forums and community discussions show a disconnect. For many Korean Americans, the age limit is less of a concern than the unintended burdens created by Korea’s laws on citizenship and taxation. “Most of us here already chose to become U.S. citizens,” one commenter wrote on MissyUSA, the largest Korean online community in the U.S. “Lowering the age doesn’t matter. What we really need is for Korea to fix the problem of U.S.-born kids who are aWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times