(image: Chuncheon Immigration Office)
CHUNCHEON, Nov. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Nine foreign nationals awaiting naturalization participated in a rehearsal for an upcoming citizenship ceremony at the Chuncheon Immigration Office in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province on Tuesday.
“As a proud citizen of the Republic of Korea, I solemnly swear that I will abide by the Korean Constitution and its laws and carry out the duties and responsibilities of a citizen of the Republic of Korea,” each of the nine pledged.
South Korea’s newly amended citizenship law will take effect on December 20, and will require naturalized citizens and recovered citizens to recite an oath of citizenship and receive a certificate of nationality at a certain place and time as designated by the head of local immigration office.
The previous version of the citizenship law deemed it sufficient to provide a letter indicating one’s newly acquired South Korean nationality.
The new version is expected to instill a sense of belonging and pride for new South Korean nationals.
“We hope that the ceremony will serve as an opportunity for naturalized citizens to feel the sense of belonging and pride as citizens of the Republic of Korea,” said a source from Chuncheon Immigration Office.
“The ceremony will be formal and suitable for the stature of our nation, celebrating the start of a new life for our new South Koreans.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
