Seoul eases rules on citizenship.

(From The Korea Herald)

By Kim So-young The Justice Ministry said Saturday that it would accept applications for Korean citizenship by all Korean-Chinese whose names remain on the domestic family registry.

The ministry's move is an apparent change in its earlier position that only legal residents were eligible to apply for citizenship.

More than 5,500 ethnic Koreans from China, whose bids for citizenship were thwarted due to their illegal status, can now renew their attempts if it is proved they or their ancestors were once Korean nationals.

The ministry also decided not to deport them forcibly should they express willingness to return to China voluntarily within this month. The developments came after President Roh Moo-hyun visited thousands of protesting Korean-Chinese and pledged to help them recover Korean nationality, albeit within legal boundaries. Speaking in a church in southwestern Seoul, where Korean-Chinese have been continuing their hunger strike, demanding to be recognized as Koreans, Roh said, "You are Koreans, regardless of laws." "But we must resolve the issue gradually, because we also have to respect China's sovereignty." Following Roh's visit, more than 2,400 Korean-Chinese ended their 16- day hunger strike, which they began in protest against the government's forceful deportation of illegal foreigners from the country, and its rejection of their ...