Special Naturalization — Distinguished Service (특별공로)
Citizenship in South Korea
- Eligibility
- Special naturalization — distinguished-service (특별공로) category: an alien who has rendered special/great contribution to the ROK ('대한민국에 특별한 공로가 있는 사람') may obtain special naturalization under 국적법 제7조제1항제2호. The standards and procedures for determining 제2호 (and 제3호) persons are prescribed by Presidential Decree (제7조제2항). Per the Enforcement Decree (국적법 시행령 제6조), distinguished-service criteria include independence-movement contribution and recipients of state decorations/merit; candidates are recommended by central administrative agency heads, the National Assembly Secretary-General, overseas-mission heads, local-government heads, and 4-year university presidents, with a 국적심의위원회 (Nationality Deliberation Committee) reviewing and the Minister of Justice making the final grant.
- Timeline
- standard
- Renunciation
- Required
Overview
Special naturalization — distinguished-service (특별공로) category: an alien who has rendered special/great contribution to the ROK ('대한민국에 특별한 공로가 있는 사람') may obtain special naturalization under 국적법 제7조제1항제2호. The standards and procedures for determining 제2호 (and 제3호) persons are prescribed by Presidential Decree (제7조제2항). Per the Enforcement Decree (국적법 시행령 제6조), distinguished-service criteria include independence-movement contribution and recipients of state decorations/merit; candidates are recommended by central administrative agency heads, the National Assembly Secretary-General, overseas-mission heads, local-government heads, and 4-year university presidents, with a 국적심의위원회 (Nationality Deliberation Committee) reviewing and the Minister of Justice making the final grant.
Who qualifies
- Special naturalization — distinguished-service (특별공로) category: an alien who has rendered special/great contribution to the ROK ('대한민국에 특별한 공로가 있는 사람') may obtain special naturalization under 국적법 제7조제1항제2호. The standards and procedures for determining 제2호 (and 제3호) persons are prescribed by Presidential Decree (제7조제2항). Per the Enforcement Decree (국적법 시행령 제6조), distinguished-service criteria include independence-movement contribution and recipients of state decorations/merit; candidates are recommended by central administrative agency heads, the National Assembly Secretary-General, overseas-mission heads, local-government heads, and 4-year university presidents, with a 국적심의위원회 (Nationality Deliberation Committee) reviewing and the Minister of Justice making the final grant.
Legal basis
Primary statute: 국적법 제7조제1항제2호. Operative 1948-12-20–present. Authority: Minister of Justice (법무부장관); Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부).
Example scenarios
ELIGIBLE via 특별공로 special naturalization
Nationality Act Art.7(1)2 (special contribution); standards and procedure per Decree, with 국적심의위원회 deliberation (Art.22).
ELIGIBLE subject to committee deliberation
국적법 제7조제1항제2호 routes are deliberated by the 국적심의위원회 (Art.22) before the Minister grants.
NOT eligible (unsubstantiated)
국적법 제7조제1항제2호 requires demonstrable special contribution/excellent talent assessed against Decree standards and Art.22 review.
Informational summary compiled from primary legal sources — not legal advice. Citizenship law changes; verify with the competent authority before acting. Last verified 2026-06-22.
Track changes to this route
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