"Chinatown in Gangwon-do Is Just a Minor Issue Compared to Nationality Law"
"Who Came Up with the Idea of Filling the Population with Chinese People?"
Screenshot of Jin-tae Kim, Chairman of the Chuncheon City Party Members' Council of the People Power Party's Twitter
[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Kim Jin-tae, chairman of the People Power Party’s Chuncheon City Party Members’ Council, who strongly criticized the construction of a 'Chinatown' surrounding Gangwon Province's 'Korea-China Cultural Town,' sharply criticized the government's nationality law amendment bill, stating "Our country's nationality law is based on jus sanguinis," and bolstered public anti-China sentiment.
On the previous day (the 30th), through his SNS, Chairman Kim emphasized regarding the government's pre-announced nationality law amendment bill, "The petition opposing the nationality law amendment bill has surpassed 310,000 signatures," and added, "The proposal is to grant South Korean nationality to children of foreigners with domestic permanent residency, of which 95% are Chinese."
Kim particularly pointed out, "Compared to this nationality law, the Gangwon Province Chinatown (Korea-China Cultural Town) is at a cute level," and criticized, "The nationality law would effectively make Chinese people South Korean citizens, turning the country into a Sino-Korean Republic (中韓民國)."
He continued, "Our country's nationality law is based on jus sanguinis. Only if the father or mother is a South Korean citizen can the child also become a South Korean citizen. Granting Korean nationality to children of Chinese ethnic Chinese directly contradicts the principle of jus sanguinis," he declared.
Kim also lamented, "They say it is due to low birth rates and population decline, but the government should make people want to have children, not fill the population shortage with Chinese. I don't know who came up with such an idea," and added, "At this rate, we might have to grant Korean nationality to all Joseonjok."
He then stated, "I do not want to live as the same South Korean citizen mixed with ethnic Chinese."
Earlier, on the 26th of last month, the Ministry of Justice pre-announced an amendment to the nationality law that would allow ethnic Chinese or Korean-Chinese permanent residents with strong ties to Korea to acquire Korean nationality for their children born domestically through simple registration.
If the amendment pre-announced by the Ministry of Justice passes, it is known that 95% of the beneficiaries will be Chinese nationals. As such criticisms emerged, public opposition has intensified, and voices against the bill are growing louder.
On the 28th, a petition titled "We strongly oppose the enactment of the nationality law amendment" on the Blue House National Petition Board, which closed on that day, reached 317,013 supporters.
The petition opposes the nationality law amendment that would allow minor children of foreigners with permanent residency to acquire South Korean nationality without special conditions.
The petitioner stated, "Claiming to solve low birth rates and aging population through nationality law amendments is truly absurd. The reason for the sharp decline in birth rates is the government's incompetence. Is this even a country? Who would want to have children in a society rife with corruption and malfeasance?" and appealed, "We should create a country where everyone wants to live, not grant nationality to over 700 foreigners annually to make them Koreans. This is absolutely unacceptable and intolerable."
Facing strong backlash including the petition, the Ministry of Justice explained, "The nationality law amendment bill pre-announced is not for any specific country but is a law considering social integration."
However, experts and related organizations, including political circles, generally reflect public sentiment and express negative views or opinions about the bill.
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