Korean Dual Citizen

[ep123]

Hello,
I just recently got my appointment to USAFA! The one thing that is holding me back right now is my dual citizenship. As a dual citizen of Korea and the US, I need to serve in the Korean military to maintain my dual citizenship as they have a mandatory conscription. Is there any way that I can take a gap year while at USAFA to fulfill my duties? I've asked Team Silver and am waiting for a response but I wanted to know if anyone has heard or seen of cases where other cadets have done this.

 

[cluelesscandidateparents]

Hello,
I just recently got my appointment to USAFA! The one thing that is holding me back right now is my dual citizenship. As a dual citizen of Korea and the US, I need to serve in the Korean military to maintain my dual citizenship as they have a mandatory conscription. Is there any way that I can take a gap year while at USAFA to fulfill my duties? I've asked Team Silver and am waiting for a response but I wanted to know if anyone has heard or seen of cases where other cadets have done this.

As far as i know u cant serve in the military in two countries.

 

[shiner]

Hello,
I just recently got my appointment to USAFA! The one thing that is holding me back right now is my dual citizenship. As a dual citizen of Korea and the US, I need to serve in the Korean military to maintain my dual citizenship as they have a mandatory conscription. Is there any way that I can take a gap year while at USAFA to fulfill my duties? I've asked Team Silver and am waiting for a response but I wanted to know if anyone has heard or seen of cases where other cadets have done this.

As far as I know, due to national security concerns, officers in the US Armed Forces cannot be dual citizens and would need to renounce their citizenship in the foreign country to receive a commission and/or security clearance.

Excited to hear what others can share on the subject. I am sure this one is clouded in rumor, bad info, and actual DoD regulation. The admissions team will share the actual policy with you. Best of luck in your endeavor.

 

[cluelesscandidateparents]

As far as I know, due to national security concerns, officers in the US Armed Forces cannot be dual citizens and would need to renounce their citizenship in the foreign country to receive a commission and/or security clearance.

No need to renounce unless asked, they just can not use their second passport for any official actions like...travel ....

 

[shiner]

Recent conversation on this topic:

Can dual citizenship be commission as officer?

Hello, I have questions regarding having Dual citizenship. I have 2 citizenship (Thai and American). Thai and America have been in a good relationship for a long time and I want to know that in order to be commission as an officer in the USAF do I have to renounce my citizenship? (I read from...

www.serviceacademyforums.com

 

[Capt MJ]

Hello,
I just recently got my appointment to USAFA! The one thing that is holding me back right now is my dual citizenship. As a dual citizen of Korea and the US, I need to serve in the Korean military to maintain my dual citizenship as they have a mandatory conscription. Is there any way that I can take a gap year while at USAFA to fulfill my duties? I've asked Team Silver and am waiting for a response but I wanted to know if anyone has heard or seen of cases where other cadets have done this.

Link below is for ‘25, see p.4 for mention of dual citizenship appointees. There is likely similar language in your class appointee booklet.

https://www.usafa.edu/app/uploads/2025-Appointee-Handbook.pdf

I could also swear in the last year, there have been posts from others with Korean citizenship, describing the complicated process to disentangle themselves from that situation, requiring multiple documents/forms that had to be translated, etc. I don’t recall which service academy they were headed for, but I’ll look for the thread.

You may want to call Admissions to discuss. Surely this will not be unfamiliar to them. Specifically bring up leaving to serve in another country’s military force.

Here’s the thread I was thinking about:

Korean Dual Citizenship

Greetings, I am a Korean American high school senior who was born in the US. According to South Korean law, I believe I automatically have dual citizenship (American + South Korean) due to both my parents being Korean nationals. Again, I was born in the US and I have never been issued a non-US...

www.serviceacademyforums.com

 

[moho]

As far as I know, due to national security concerns, officers in the US Armed Forces cannot be dual citizens and would need to renounce their citizenship in the foreign country to receive a commission and/or security clearance.

Excited to hear what others can share on the subject. I am sure this one is clouded in rumor, bad info, and actual DoD regulation. The admissions team will share the actual policy with you. Best of luck in your endeavor.

The first document I had to sign when I showed up for AFROTC was the intent to renounce my Italian citizenship. Not actually renouncing it, but signing a document stating that I approve, if asked, for the U.S. government on my behalf to renounce that dual citizenship should it ever become a concern.

I highly doubt the DoD would be comfortable with a U.S. citizen serving in a foreign armed forces for a service commitment while active duty as a cadet, but obviously I am not qualified to speak on this matter, as you highlight in your last sentences

 

[cluelesscandidateparents]

The first document I had to sign when I showed up for AFROTC was the intent to renounce my Italian citizenship. Not actually renouncing it, but signing a document stating that I approve, if asked, for the U.S. government on my behalf to renounce that dual citizenship should it ever become a concern.

I highly doubt the DoD would be comfortable with a U.S. citizen serving in a foreign armed forces for a service commitment while active duty as a cadet, but obviously I am not qualified to speak on this matter, as you highlight in your last sentences

I agree w u 100%.

 

[ak29]

I also was a dual citizen in Korea a few years back. What I did was I went to the Korean consulate up in Los Angeles in order to renounce my Korean citizenship. It's a lengthy process, so you should start it ASAP.

 

[Humey]

I have no idea about Korean law but it is typical that if you serve in the military of your adopted country, the home country doesn't require you to serve there also. My son (US born) had Israeli citizenship which we felt it would be better to get rid of prior to commissioning. Israel wont typically allow you to renounce your citizenship until a certain age. They do this to avoid people who want to avoid the military. However, when we told them my son was serving in the US military, they allowed him to renounce it without any problems. Obviously, each nation has it own rules and each follows it in its own manner. However, i would go in and let them know you will be serving in the US military.

 

[Pepper11]

Look at page 4 of the Appointee Handbook for information on dual citizenship.