Draft for the MCOT

What is the Multiple Citizenship for Outstanding Talent (the MCOT)?

Based upon the assessment of the Nationality Review Committee, the Multiple Citizenship for Outstanding Talent (hereinafter the MCOT) allows an individual to obtain Korean citizenship while keeping his/her foreign nationality when s/he has a certain ability, skill or expertise in an eligible segment, including the sciences, economy and the arts, and his/her contribution can be of benefit to the Republic of Korea.

Who is entitled?

To be eligible, you must

① be a renowned or prominent figure

② be recognized with exceptional achievements in academia and research

③ have extraordinary abilities in arts and culture

④ have outstanding abilities in sport

⑤ be in a profession in national, international business or foreign investors pursuant to the Foreign Investment Promotion Act

⑥ be in a profession in the fields that have emerged or involve cutting-edge technologies

⑦ have his/her own original technology in industries pertaining to emerging, up-to-date technologies or the sciences

⑧ be an intellectual property holder—either national or international

⑨ have certain expertise and skill regarding a particular segment

⑩ have work experience in an international entity

※ An applicant who meets one of the conditions regarding disorderly conduct, prescribed in Article 5 (2) of the Nationality Act, will be denied review for DCSOT.

What documents are required?

① An applicant should submit an application at an Immigration Office or a diplomatic mission.

② The Nationality Review Committee will review and discuss to draw a decision, and then conduct an interview for naturalization applicants. The Minister of Justice then will permit naturalization or restoration of one’s citizenship.  (For an applicant who wishes to restore his/her Korean citizenship, his/her interview will be waived.)

③ When completing taking oaths of fidelity and not to exercise foreign citizenship and receiving a nationality certificate altogether, one will be considered a legitimate dual citizenship holder.

Application and Acceptance		Review/Decision by the Committee		Naturalization interview		Permission for Naturalization /Restoration of Nationality		Awarding Citizenship Certificate		Oath Not to Exercise Foreign citizenship

What documents are required?

① Detailed Statement for MCOT

② Necessary documents according to Article 3 (Application forms and attached documents for naturalization) or Article 6 (Application forms and attached documents for recovery of nationality) of the Nationality Enforcement Decree

- application for naturalization permit

- application for nationality recovery permit

- documents proving one's foreign identity

- Family Relations Notice

- Basic certificate (detail)

- pathological certificate (submitted only to the subject)

※ Have all documents issued in a language other than Korean translated into either Korean or English.  When the credibility of documents lodged should be demonstrated, you will be asked to provide an apostille or authentication by a mission

What is a point system for DCOT?

An individual who falls short of income and other basic criteria will still be afforded the opportunity to be reviewed by the Committee if s/he gets 70 points or higher based on the quantified values of potential growth of emerging industries, expected contributions to the Korean community and other elements.

* Emerging industries include categories engaging system semiconductor, bio-health, autonomous vehicles, and Artificial Intelligence(AI)

What are the factors listed in the points system?

① Koreans employed ② Tax payments ③ Export Performance

④ National or international academic credentials ⑤ Contributions to the community  ⑥ Letter of Recommendation ⑦ Volunteer time ⑧ Long-term legal stay

Where to submit an application?

An application should be submitted to one of 18 Immigration Offices in Korea or Korean diplomatic missions abroad

☌ Hi Korea

Seoul Immigration Office	02-2650-6236
Seoul Southern Immigration Office	02-6980-4700
Busan Immigration Office	051-461-3162
Incheon Immigration Office	032-890-6388
Suwon Immigration Office	031-695-3891
Jeju Immigration Office	064-741-5400
Daegu Immigration Office	053-980-3540
Daejeon Immigration Office	042-220-2003
Yeosu Immigration Office	061-689-5511
Yangju Immigration Office	031-828-9368
Ulsan Immigration Office	052-279-8009
Gwangju Immigration Office	062-605-5105
Changwon Immigration Office	055-981-6015
Jeonju Immigration Office	063-249-8694
Chuncheon Immigration Office	033-269-3210
Cheongju Immigration Office	043-230-9020
Chuncheon Immigration Office Donghae Branch	033-535-5721
Chuncheon Immigration Office Sokcho Branch	033-636-8613

1		Standards for assessing talented individuals

※ When applying for the MCOT, you must fulfill basic qualification requirements, such as work experience, before immediately submitting an application. Applicants with a Master’s or Doctoral degree, either in Korea or abroad, are subject to the same criteria as Koreans with foreign nationality.

Category	Basic Requirements (e.g. work experience)	Income criteria
❶ Renowned or Prominent figure	① Former head of state or government, or minister-level officials or higher, former head of an international agency and others	N/R
	②Recipient of Nobel, Pulitzer, Goethe, Goncourt, Man Booker Prizes, Fields Medal, A.M. Turing Award, or Winner of Olympics Medalists (at least a Bronze-medal winner)	N/R
❷ Person with outstanding achievements in academics and research	⓵ A person who worked or is working in a four-year college or university, either in Korea or abroad, in the position of an associate professor or higher, for a year or more while being an author of a paper or more that has or have been published in an academic journal recognized by SCI, SSCI, A&HCR; or two papers or more that have been published in a journal recognized by KCI; or a paper or more that has/have been presented or published two times or more in a conference, academic journal or other prestigious platforms in their chosen field. * The Higher Education Act indicates that the positions classified higher than an associate professor include a professor, dean, and president. When an applicant worked or is working in a college or university outside Korea, his/her work experience would be accepted as the equivalent of a degree attained in Korea, if appropriate.	N/R
	② An individual who worked or is working as a school teacher* for three years or longer in a four-year college or university, either in Korea or abroad, while being an author of three papers or more that have been published in a journal registered in SCI, SSCI, A&HCI or others; or five papers or more in a journal, listed in KCI; or a paper or more that has or have been presented or published five times or more in a journal, conference or other scholarly platform with high authority. * The Higher Education Act delineates that they are an associate professor or lecturer. Applicants whose experience is attained abroad would be accepted as the equivalent of the one earned in Korea, if appropriate. ※ Koreans with foreign citizenship with two years of experience or longer are allowed to apply.	N/R
	③ A person who gave or is giving lectures for two years or longer in one of the top 300 colleges/universities* for the recent three years while being an author of three papers or more in a journal listed in SCI, SSCI, A&HCI or others; or five papers or more that have been published in a journal registered in KCI or others; or a paper or more that has or have been presented or published five times or more in a prestigious journal, conference or other scholarly platform in their chosen field. * The classification refers to the QS World University Rankings (the QS) or the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (The THE). ※ Koreans with foreign citizenship working in one of the top 500 colleges are allowed to apply.	N/R

Category	Basic Requirements (e.g. work experience)	Income criteria
❷ Person with outstanding achievements in academics and research	④A person who worked or is working as a researcher for three years or longer in a national research entity, a research entity designated by a public institution, Industry-Academia partnership/research center affiliated to a university (only those in the sciences), a private center affiliated to a civilian company (only those in the sciences) while being an author of three papers or more that have been published in a journal listed in SCI, SSCI, A&HCI or other s , within the past five years; Or five papers or more that have been published in a journal registered in the KCI or other; or a paper or more that has or have been presented or published five times or more in a journal, conference or other scholarly platforms with authority in their chosen field. ※ Koreans with foreign citizenship with two years of experience are allowed to apply.	N/R
❸ A person with extraordinary abilities in arts and culture	⓵ A person who was/is awarded by an entity with national or international acclaim based on his/her distinguished ability in his/her field of endeavor. ⓶A person who is a member of an exclusive association where only people with excellent achievements, recognized by prominent and renowned figures in their chosen field, can join. ⓷ A person whose outstanding ability in his/her field of endeavor was introduced in either scholarly or popular literature; or whose scholarly achievement was introduced in scholarly literature. ⓸ A person who participated in an exhibition, exposition, competition, film festival or others with widespread recognition and confidence in his/her filed of endeavor, as a judge or part of a judging panel. ⓹ A person who exhibited, performed or won an award in an internationally renowned art exhibition, exposition, performance, film or music festival or others; or an individual who signed or signs a publisher, label, or others with widespread authority. ※A person who meets more than the two conditions in the criteria above.	Foreign applicants: twice or more than GNI Koreans with foreign citizenship: 15 times or more than GNI ; Or documentary evidence of commercial success, such as box-office profits, book and album sales records, or relevant major awards.
❹ A person with exceptional abilities in sport	⓵ A person who was awarded by an entity with national or international reputation and confidence based on his/her outstanding ability in his/her filed of endeavor ⓶A person who is a member of a club where only people with excellent achievements, recognized by renowned and prominent figures, in his/her field of endeavor. ③ An individual whose extraordinary ability or scholarly publications were introduced or published in either scholarly or major popular literature. ④ An individual who served as a judge or a jury in an international sporting event, competition or others. ⑤ An athlete or coach with a record of participating an internationally renowned sporting event. Some of its examples are : the Olympics; football World Cup (including FIFA U-20 World Cup); World Athletics Championship (including junior championship); continental football championships (including the UEFA European Football championship and youth championships); and Paralympics. ⑥ A sport player who ranked within the top three in an individual competition or whose team reached a quarterfinal in a team competition in a major sporting event with international reputation or a golfer who ranked within in the top 20 in a competition like PGA and LPGA within the recent three years ※An applicant must meet two conditions above or more.	Foreign applicants: twice or more than GNI Koreans with foreign nationality: 1.5 times or more than GNI; or documentary evidence to prove applicants’ commercial success, such as profits generated and an award earned. ※ People with disabilities whose referee is the president of Korea Paralympic Committee are subject to the same criteria as Koreans with foreign nationality.

Category	Basic requirements (e. g. work experience )	Income criteria
❺ A person with work experience in Korean/non-Korean business or foreign investor	① A person who (has) acquired three years of work experience or longer, within the past three years, in a global business named to the top 300 businesses list of a renowned business outlet, such as Fortune and the Economist while working as a full-time executive director or appointee in a large business that is subject to the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act. ※Koreans with foreign nationality who (have) worked one year or longer in one of the top 500 companies named to a prominent economic media outlet’s list are allowed to apply.	Foreign applicants: twice or more than GNI Koreans with foreign nationality: 1.5 times or more than GNI;
	② A person who (has) acquired three years of work experience or longer in a business named to the Top 300 Companies list, generated by a renowned media outlet in economy, such as Fortune and the Economist, within the recent three years, and who has regularly worked or is going to work as an executive director in a medium-sized company that is subject to Special Act on the Promotion of Growth and the Strengthening of Competitiveness of Middle-standing Enterprises. ※Koreans with foreign nationality who they (have) worked two years or longer in a company named to the Top 500 list of a renowned media outlet, focused mainly on economic issues, are eligible to apply.
	③ An individual who (has) worked three years or longer as an executive director or higher in the position in a business, located in Korea, with 100 full-time workers or more along with more than KWD 8 bill in capital. ※Koreans with foreign nationality who worked two years or longer (all else being equal are qualified to apply.
	④ An entrepreneur whose average exports stand at USD 50 million or more for the past three years or both a representative and CEO of a legal entity, which is subject to the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises. ※ Koreans with foreign nationality whose company generates USD 20 million in export are allowed to apply.	Documents to demonstrate work performance
	⑤ Pursuant to the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, an individual who (have) resided for three years or longer in Korea and whose tax payments (have) exceed KWD 300 million, and whose business is retaining 30 Korean workers or more.	Documents to demonstrate relevant performance
❻ A person with Work experience in emerging or cutting-edge industries	A person who (has) attained two years of work experience of longer in a segment pertaining to emerging or up-to-date technologies while being an employee of a Korean company or R&D center(including a prospective employee ). * Emerging sectors are non-memory semiconductor, Bio-health, cars with advanced technologies, AI and others. ** Segments involving cutting-edge technologies are relevant to new materials, IT, e-commerce, bio technology, nanotech, transport machinery, energy and environmental technology, digital home appliances, technological convergence, software technology. ※ Koreans with foreign nationality with one year of work experience or longer are eligible to apply.	Foreign applicants: twice than GNI Koreans with foreign citizenship: 1.5 times than GNI

Category	Basic criteria (e.g. work experience)	Income criteria
❼ A person with original technology in segments that are new, or involving cutting-edge techs, science, or others	A person who owns hi/her state-of-the-art original technology regarding emerging industry, up-to-date technology industry or the sciences and whose technology has not been rolled out in the marketplace thus far.	N./R
❽ Holder of an intellectual property rights	An intellectual property holder (patent, utility model patent, design patent) who (has) earned KWD 100 million or more through his/her patent. (This includes the incomes garnered from patent assignment )	N./R
❾ A person with expertise/skills in certain spaces	A person who (has) resided in Korea for three years or longer and is a holder of a practicing license, such as a doctor, attorney at law, accountant, professional engineer; and who is currently working or prospective worker in his/her chosen area.	Foreign applicants: twice than GNI Koreans with foreign nationality: 1.5 times than GNI
❿ A person with work experience in an international entity	A person who was or is expected to be of benefit to the Korean community with 10 years of longer of his/her work experience in an international entity like the UN, WHO, OECD, IAEA, UNESCO; or with comparable qualification	N/R

※ Koreans with foreign citizenship refer to individuals who meet the conditions stated in Article 2 (2) of the Immigration and Legal Status of Korean Compatriots Act.

Under this policy, the Minister of Justice will present an applicant with an opportunity to be assessed by the Nationality Review Committee if s/he earns 70 points or higher, based on the potential for growth in his/her chosen field, the prospect of contributions and other, even though his/her qualifications fall short of the basic criteria.

2		A Point System for the MCOT

▣ Points table Unit: ₩

No	Item (highest points possible)	Points available per range
1	Koreans employed (40) Unit: person	30 and more	20-29			5-19					4 and fewer
		40 points	2 points per person (20-38 points)			1 point per person (5-19 points)					4 points
2	Tax payments (30)	300M and more	60M to less than 300M				10M to less than 60M
		30 points	One point per 10 M 6 – 29 points				5 points
3	Export Performance (30)	3B and more	600M to less than 3B				100M to less than 600M
		30 points	One point per 100 M (6-29 points)				5 points
4	Academic Credential (50) Degree earned in countries other than Korea may be acknowledged as the equivalent of a degree passed in Korea.	PhD in an emerging industry (e.g. non-memory semiconductors, bio-health, pioneering mobility technologies, AI)			PhD in engineering and natural sciences				PhD in other majors	Master’s degree		Bachelor’s degree
		50 points			40 points				30 points	15 points		3 points
5	Social contribution /donation (per year) (20)	10 M and more	1M to less than 10 M					500K to less than 1 M
		20 points	1 point per 600 K (5-19 points)					4 points
6	Recommendation (15)	Referee no. 6-1), 2)		Referee no. 6-3), 4), 5), 6)					Referee no. 6-7)
		15 points		10 points					5 points
7	Volunteer time (15)	180 hours and longer		50 to less than 179 (1 point per 10 hours)					49 hours and less
		15 points		2 – 14 points					1 point
8	Long-term legal stay (10)	Over 10 years		4 to less than 10 years					3 years and longer
		10 points		4-9 points (1 point per year)					3 points

▣ Criteria and required documents per item

(No. 1) Businesses enrolling in four National Insurance plans (National Pension, National Health Insurance, Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, and Employment Insurance)

(No. 2) Record of tax payments, excluding VAT, for the past year (e.g. corporate taxes, income taxes, education taxes)

(No. 3) Confirmation note or certificate issued by Korea Customs Service, Korea International Trade Association, tax accountant or other certified parties.

(No. 4) Degrees earned in countries other than the Republic of Korea are acceptable. Only those who received a degree, not graduate/degree candidates, are qualified to apply. All applicants must present a graduate, or degree certificate.

(No. 5) A supporting document that proves your donation, such as a certificate, receipt, and list of donations. Non-cash donations are also valid.

(No. 6) Only a recommendation letter issued under the name of the head of an entity is valid.

※ An applicant’s referee must meet our criteria. For information, please refer to no. 6 (Eligible referees) of the Public Notification on the Assessment Criteria and Recommendation of Talented Individuals (by the Ministry of Justice).

(No. 7) Volunteering performed within the last three years are accepted. An applicant’s volunteering activity and number of hours must be confirmed by an organization/agency/other in charge.

※ Volunteering activities are only valid when a certificate for volunteering is confirmed/issued via www.1365.go.kr or www.vms.or.kr.

(No.8) This part is subjected to Article 5 of the Enforcement Rule of the Nationality Act.  (It is an applicant’s responsibility to count duration of stay based on the Certificate of Entry and Exit.)

※ General rule for calculating score points: No rounding is allowed when calculating points for each range; even if one’s performance surpasses the required threshold, there will be no extra points.