Wealthy S. Korean parents ditch passports to get kids into international school

SEOUL - Vanuatu, an archipelago of 83 islands in the South Pacific, is a paradise for nature lovers. But in South Korea, this beautiful island nation is gaining attention for a different reason: citizenship shopping.

Ms Bae, 30, a housewife living in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, is thinking of acquiring Vanuatu citizenship for the sake of her 4-year-old son.

“My son currently attends an English immersion kindergarten. I am hoping he can enroll in international schools (in Korea), instead of local schools,” she told The Korea Herald, citing a multicultural learning environment and English curriculum as major reasons.

If Ms Bae becomes a Vanuatu citizen, her son will become eligible for admissions to international schools, she added.

According to international schools accredited by the Education Ministry, such as Yongsan International School of Seoul and Seoul Foreign School, children who have Korean nationality, like Ms Bae’s son, can only be admitted if one of their parents has foreign nationality or if the child has lived overseas for at least three years.

Now, private overseas immigration agencies assist parents who want to enroll their child in such schools by meeting the first part of the requirement – one parent having foreign nationality. “Citizenship by investment” programs hosted by some Caribbean and Pacific states serve as crucial pathways for some of Korea’s wealthy.

Vanuatu citizenship, for example, typically requires an investment in the country - or simply a cash donation - of US$130,000 (S$175,000) for a single applicant, US$150,000 for a married couple or US$180,000 for a family of four, according to Mr Cho, director of one such immigration consulting firm in Seoul.

“Vanuatu is one of the most preferred destinations (to obtain citizenship through investment). The application process takes three to six months, and no mandatory residence period is required,” he said.

When this Korea Herald reporter, posing as a client, consulted with him about Vanuatu’s citizenship program, the director recommended that the reporter apply as fast as possible before new regulations on passport issuance take place in December. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK