Nationality determines a person's status as a citizen, and those who acquire it become both sovereign subjects of the nation and subjects of its internal governance, making naturalization a comprehensive act of establishing legal status as a citizen by granting Korean citizenship to foreigners. In the Korean Nationality Act, there are three types of naturalization for acquiring Korean citizenship: general naturalization, simplified naturalization, and special naturalization.

■ General Naturalization
When applying for naturalization, the following requirements must be met: First, the applicant must have had a residence address in the Republic of Korea for more than five consecutive years. In this case, the period of the applicant's domestic residence is counted as the period from when the foreigner entered the country legally, completed alien registration, and continued to reside in the country. However, in cases where the following applies, the Period of Residence before and after is combined and considered continuous residence. This includes cases where the applicant left the country before the expiration of the Period of Residence and obtained re-entry permission and then re-entered the country within the permitted period, or cases where the applicant temporarily left the country due to reasons that make it impossible to extend their stay while residing in the country, and then returned to the country within one month after obtaining a visa.
Second, the applicant must hold permanent residency (F-5) status in Korea. Third, the applicant must be 19 years of age or older according to Korean civil law. Fourth, the applicant must have a record of complying with the law and possessing good moral character.


The term "good moral character" refers to having the character and behavior that are acceptable to become a member of Korean society, taking into account various factors such as the foreigner's gender, age, family, career, and criminal history. According to Article 5(2) of the Nationality Act Enforcement Rules, a person who falls under any of the following categories may be denied naturalization due to not meeting the "good moral character" requirement, even if they apply for naturalization:
① A person who has received a sentence of probation or a suspended sentence within two years from the date of the sentence.
② A person who has received a fine sentence within five years from the date of payment of the fine.
③ A person who has received a sentence of imprisonment of more than six months and has received a suspended sentence within seven years from the date of expiration of the probation period.
④ A person who has received a sentence of imprisonment of more than six months and has completed the sentence or has not received the sentence within ten years from the date of completion of the sentence.
⑤ A person who has received a departure order within five years from the date of departure.
⑥ A person who has received an expulsion order within ten years from the date of departure.
⑦ A person who has not paid national, customs, or local taxes.
However, the Minister of Justice may exempt or reduce the periods mentioned above by half within the range of 2/1, taking into account the following: the circumstances of the violation of the law, the degree of infringement of public interests resulting from it, the number of times the law has been violated, the degree of contribution to Korean society, and other humanitarian circumstances and national interests, if the conduct is recognized to be proper.

Fifth, applicants must be financially stable and have the ability to support themselves and any family members who depend on them. To prove this, general naturalization applicants must provide one of the following documents as proof of their ability to maintain their livelihood: 1) a certificate of income that proves an income amount equal to or greater than the previous year's per capita gross national income (GNI) announced by the Bank of Korea (issued by the tax office), 2) proof of financial assets totaling more than 60 million won (such as deposits, savings, and securities), or 3) proof of real estate ownership with a market value of more than 60 million won, or a copy of a lease contract for a property with a security deposit of more than 60 million won.
Sixth, applicants must have a basic understanding of the Korean language and culture as well as the customs of Korean society. The minimum standard for this basic knowledge is a score of 60 or higher on the 100-point comprehensive evaluation for naturalization, or completion of the Social Integration Program's five levels.
Note that exemption from the comprehensive evaluation includes minors, individuals aged 60 or older, those who fall under Article 7, Section 1, Clauses 2 or 3 of the Nationality Act, those who have completed the Social Integration Program's five levels, or those who have scored 60 or higher on the comprehensive evaluation within three years of the naturalization application date.
Exempted from the interview evaluation are spouses of those who have recovered Korean citizenship and are aged 60 or older, those who were under 15 years old at the time of their naturalization application, and those who have scored 60 or higher on the comprehensive evaluation.



- General naturalization application form, one color photo, one copy of passport, and a fee of KRW 300,000.
- Criminal record certificate issued by the applicant's home country government.
- Two or more letters of recommendation from Korean citizens who have a continuous relationship with the naturalization applicant regardless of their occupation or social status. The recommender must provide their ID or employment certificate (for colleagues, etc.), and the recommendation letter must include details on how the recommender became acquainted with the applicant and reasons for the recommendation.
- Proof of financial stability of the applicant or their family to demonstrate the ability to maintain livelihood independently (submit one of the following documents):
- Proof of income exceeding the per capita gross national income (GNI) in the previous year according to the Bank of Korea's announcement.
- Proof of financial assets worth over KRW 60 million, such as deposits, savings, securities, etc.
- Proof of ownership of real estate worth over KRW 60 million, based on the assessed value, actual transaction value, or market price according to a commercial bank.
- For applicants from China, a kinship certificate authenticated by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a notarized certificate of relationship.


■ Simplified Naturalization
Simplified naturalization allows foreign nationals to acquire Korean citizenship more easily compared to general naturalization based on blood relations or status with Korean nationals. In other words, the period of residence in Korea required for simplified naturalization is shortened from 5 years to 3 or 2 years. The following individuals are eligible for simplified naturalization: ① those who had a parent who was a Korean national, ② those who were born in Korea and had a parent who was born in Korea (including children of overseas Koreans), ③ those who were adopted by Korean nationals when they were adults under Korean civil law, and ④ foreign spouses who are in a legal marriage with a Korean national. However, foreign spouses who are living in a de facto relationship with a Korean national are not eligible for simplified naturalization and must continue to reside in Korea for more than 5 years to apply for general naturalization.
Meanwhile, the requirements for simplified naturalization for the spouse of a Korean national who is a marriage immigrant are as follows: first, they must have resided in Korea for 2 or more years with a legally declared marriage to a Korean national. However, even if the marital relationship is terminated, foreign spouses who ① could not continue a normal marital life without their own fault due to the death or disappearance of their spouse or other reasons, or ② who are raising or must raise minor children born between them and their Korean spouse, are eligible to apply for simplified naturalization if they meet the remaining residence period requirement.
Second, under the civil law of the Republic of Korea, the applicant must be at least 19 years old.
Third, the applicant must meet the requirements for good conduct, such as complying with the law. For guidance on the requirements for good conduct, the general requirements for naturalization should be referred to.
Fourth, the applicant must have the ability to support themselves or depend on their family members who live with them. For those applying for simplified naturalization, they must submit one of the following documents as proof of their ability to support themselves: 1) proof of financial assets worth 30 million won or more, such as deposits, savings, securities, etc.; 2) proof of ownership of real estate worth 30 million won or more, such as the assessed value, actual transaction value, or market price disclosed by commercial banks, or a copy of a real estate lease agreement with a security deposit of 30 million won or more; or 3) a certificate of employment or a proof of future employment.
Fifth, the applicant must possess basic knowledge as a Korean national, including an understanding of the Korean language and culture. The basic knowledge requirement is based on either completion of the Social Integration Program's five stages or obtaining a score of 60 or higher out of 100 in the comprehensive naturalization evaluation.

■ Special Naturalization
The special naturalization targets individuals who are ①children of Korean citizens (e.g. if a foreigner was adopted by a Korean citizen while still a minor, they are eligible for special naturalization, and if the mother is a naturalized citizen, her child is also eligible for special naturalization), ②individuals who have made special contributions to the Republic of Korea (including their spouse and direct descendants, so even the descendants of independence fighters can apply for special naturalization), and ③individuals who possess exceptional abilities in specific fields such as science, economics, culture, and sports, and are recognized as contributing to the national interest of the Republic of Korea. For example, Nobel laureates, distinguished professors, Olympic medalists, and renowned directors like Bong Joon-ho can be recognized as outstanding talents overseas and granted special naturalization. The determination of whether an individual qualifies as an outstanding talent overseas is made by a national evaluation committee composed of experts in specific fields such as science, economics, culture, and sports and is reviewed by the Minister of Justice. Special naturalization exempts the applicant from the requirement of a 5-year domestic residency and proof of the ability to maintain a livelihood, and minors are also eligible to apply. Therefore, to apply for special naturalization, foreigners need only have a residence in the Republic of Korea, exhibit good behavior, and possess the basic knowledge and etiquette expected of a Korean citizen.