Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters mandated by the Registration of Overseas Korean Nationals Act and matters necessary for the enforcement thereof. <Amended on May 21, 2008>
Article 2(Method of application for registration) #
(1) An overseas Korean national who intends to file for registration (hereinafter referred to as "person subject to registration") under Article 2 of the Registration of Overseas Korean Nationals Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Act") shall submit to the head of the Embassy, Consulate General, Consulate, Subconsulate, or Consulate Branch Office of the Republic of Korea having jurisdiction over his or her address or place of residence (hereinafter referred to as "registration mission") an application for registration of overseas Korean nationals in the form prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the following documents: <Amended on Aug. 12, 2025>
1. Documents confirming the stay of the person subject to registration in the country of stay, such as a visa issued by such country, an immigration stamp, and a certificate of entry and departure;
2. The resident registration card of the person subject to registration or any other document verifying his or her identity (hereinafter referred to as "identification document").
(2) Any of the following persons, among the relatives of a person subject to registration, may file an application for registration with the relevant registration mission on behalf of such person under Article 2 of the Act; in such cases, in addition to an application for registration of overseas Korean nationals under paragraph (1) and the documents specified in the subparagraphs of that paragraph, documents proving the relationship between the person and the applicant, such as a certificate of family relation records or a certified copy of archived family register, along with the applicant's identification document shall be submitted:
1. Spouse;
2. Lineal blood relatives of the spouse;
3. Lineal blood relatives;
4. Spouses of lineal blood relatives.
(3) Upon receipt of an application under paragraph (1) or (2), the head of the registration mission shall verify whether the applicant is the person subject to registration himself or herself or a person who falls under any of the relationships specified in the subparagraphs of paragraph (2) with the person subject to registration.
(4) Upon receipt of an application under paragraph (1) or (2), the head of the registration mission shall verify the following regarding the person subject to registration through administrative data matching under Article 36(1) of the Electronic Government Act or through personal data matching under Article 10-2 of the Civil Petitions Treatment Act; provided, if the applicant does not consent to such verification, the relevant documents (in the case of subparagraph 1, referring to a copy thereof) shall be attached: <Amended on Aug. 12, 2025>
1. A passport;
2. A certificate of military service or a certified copy of individual register containing military service records;
3. A certificate of entry and departure;
4. An identification certificate under Article 15(1)2 of the Act on Registration of Family Relations.
(5) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) through (4), if the submission or verification of the documents specified in the subparagraphs of paragraph (1) or (4) is deemed impracticable for a person born abroad, the head of a registration mission may substitute such submission or verification with methods determined and publicly notified by the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency, such as the submission of documents proving that the person is a national of the Republic of Korea or an interview. <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 24, 2019]
Article 3(Preparation of overseas Korean national register) #
(1) Upon receipt of an application under Article 2(1) or (2), the head of a registration mission shall prepare the overseas Korean national register for each individual based on the details of the application for registration of overseas Korean nationals.
(2) The overseas Korean national register under paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as "register") shall be maintained by recording the matters specified in the subparagraphs of Article 3 of the Act in an electronic data processing system; provided, if it is impossible to use such system due to unavoidable reasons such as a system failure, the head of the relevant registration mission shall notify the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency without delay and may temporarily record such matters manually. <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
(3) Where the head of a registration mission has recorded matters manually under the proviso of paragraph (2), the head shall record such matters in the electronic data processing system once the system becomes available.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 24, 2019]
Article 4 #
Deleted. <Dec. 24, 2019>
Article 5(Application for issuance of certified copy of overseas Korean national register) #
(1) A registered overseas Korean national (referring to a person who has filed for registration with a registration mission under Article 4 of the Act; hereinafter the same shall apply) who intends to be issued a certified copy of the overseas Korean national register (hereafter in this Article, referred to as "certified copy") under Article 7 of the Act shall submit an application for the issuance of a certified copy of the overseas Korean national register in the form prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the identification document of such national, to the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency or the head of the registration mission. <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an heir or any other universal successor of a registered overseas Korean national, or an agent of such heir or successor may file an application for the issuance of a certified copy; in such cases, the following documents shall be submitted, in addition to the application for the issuance of a certified copy of the overseas Korean national register under paragraph (1) and the identification document of such registered national:
1. Documents proving the relationship between the registered overseas Korean national and the applicant, such as a certificate of family relation records or a certified copy of archived family register (applicable only to an application filed by an heir or any other universal successors of the registered national); 2. A power of attorney (applicable only to an application filed by an agent);
3. An identification document of the applicant.
(3) Upon receipt of an application under paragraph (1) or (2), the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency or the head of the registration mission shall verify whether the applicant is the registered overseas Korean national, an heir, any other universal successor, or an agent of such person. <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
(4) Upon receipt of an application under paragraph (1) or (2), the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency or the head of the registration mission shall prepare a certified copy based on the records in the register (including matters deregistered at the request of the registered overseas Korean national), affix the official seal thereto, and issue it. <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
(5) The affixing of an official seal on a certified copy under paragraph (4) may be substituted by printing the impression of such seal.
(6) A certified copy may be issued directly to the applicant, or sent by mail or electronic document.
Article 6 #
Deleted. <Dec. 24, 2019>
Article 7(Method of filing reports of modification or relocation) #
(1) A registered overseas Korean national who intends to file a report of the modification of registered matters under Article 8 of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "report of modification") or to file a report of relocation under Article 9 of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "report of relocation") shall submit to the head of the relevant registration mission a report of modification or relocation for overseas Korean national registration in the form prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with his or her identification document and the following documents: <Amended on Aug. 12, 2025>
1. Where the status of stay among the registered matters specified in subparagraph 7 of Article 3 of the Act has been modified: Documents proving such modification, such as a visa issued by the country of stay;
2. Where the registered matters under subparagraph 8 of Article 3 of the Act have been modified (limited to cases where the country of stay has changed): Documents certifying entry into the country of stay where the new address or place of residence is located.
(2) Among the relatives of a registered overseas Korean national, any of the persons specified in the subparagraphs of Article 2(2) may file a report of modification or relocation on behalf of such national; in such cases, in addition to a report of modification or relocation for overseas Korean national registration under paragraph (1), the identification document of such national, and the documents specified in the subparagraphs of that paragraph, the following documents shall also be submitted:
1. Documents proving the relationship between the registered overseas Korean national and the person who has filed a report, such as a certificate of family relation records or a certified copy of archived family register;
2. An identification document of the person who has filed a report.
(3) Upon receipt of a report under paragraph (1) or (2), the head of the registration mission shall verify whether the person who has filed a report is the registered overseas Korean national himself or herself or a person who falls under any of the relationships specified in the subparagraphs of Article 2(2) with such national.
(4) In any of the following cases where the head of the registration mission has received a report of modification or relocation, the head shall verify the following regarding to the registered overseas Korean national through administrative data matching under Article 36(1) of the Electronic Government Act or through personal data matching under Article 10-2 of the Civil Petitions Treatment Act; provided, if the person who has filed a report does not consent to such verification, the relevant documents (in the case of subparagraph 2, referring to a copy thereof) shall be attached: <Amended on Aug. 12, 2025>
Article 7-2(Method of filing reports of return) #
(1) A registered overseas Korean national who intends to file a report of return under Article 9-2 of the Act shall submit a report of return in the form prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with his or her identification document, to the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency. <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
(2) Among the relatives of a registered overseas Korean national, any of the persons specified in the subparagraphs of Article 2(2) may file a report of return under Article 9-2 of the Act on behalf of such national; in such cases, in addition to a report of return under paragraph (1) and the identification document of such national, the following documents shall also be submitted:
1. Documents proving the relationship between the registered overseas Korean national and the person who has filed a report, such as a certificate of family relation records or a certified copy of archived family register;
2. An identification document of the person who has filed a report.
(3) The head of a registration mission may, for the convenience of a registered overseas Korean national, receive a report of return under paragraph (1) or (2) before such national returns to the Republic of Korea. In such cases, the head shall forward the report to the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency. <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
(4) Upon receipt of a report of return under paragraph (1) or (2), the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency shall verify whether the person who has filed the report is the registered overseas Korean national himself or herself or a person who falls under any of the relationships specified in the subparagraphs of Article 2(2) with such national. <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
(5) Upon receipt of a report of return under paragraph (1) or (2), the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency shall verify the certificate of entry and departure of the registered overseas Korean national through administrative data matching under Article 36(1) of the Electronic Government Act; provided, if the person who has filed the report does not consent to such verification, a copy thereof shall be attached. <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
[This Article Added on Dec. 24, 2019]
Article 8(Management of overseas Korean national register files) #
(1) The overseas Korean national register files under Article 10 of the Act (hereafter in this Article referred to as "register files") shall be managed and kept in accordance with the following methods: <Amended on Dec. 24, 2019; Apr. 5, 2023>
1. The register files shall be stored on a separate storage medium containing the input data and programs thereof and retained in an isolated location to prevent loss or damage;
2. Where any abnormality occurs in the electronic information processing system, the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency or the head of a registration mission who manages the register files shall immediately inspect the management status of the register files and restore any damaged register files to their state prior to the damage;
3. Where the overseas Korean national register is modified or disposed of, such modification or disposal shall be recorded in the register files.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (1), the Public Records Management Act and the Enforcement Decree of that Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the method of retention and disposal of register files and other relevant matters. <Amended on May 21, 2008; Dec. 21, 2011>
[Title Amended on Dec. 24, 2019]
Article 8-2(Correction of register due to error) #
Where any error or omission exists in the records of the register, the Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency or the head of a registration mission shall, when correcting the recorded matters, record the new matters in the portion to be corrected and record the details and reasons for such correction in the relevant column of the register. <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
[This Article Added on Dec. 24, 2019]
Article 8-3(Method of registration or reporting) #
Applications for registration, applications for the issuance of a certified copy of the overseas Korean national register, reports of modification, reports of relocation, and reports of return under Articles 3, 7 through 9, and 9-2 of the Act shall be made by directly submitting the relevant documents or by electronic document in accordance with Article 11 of the Act; provided, applications for registration under Article 3 of the Act, reports of modification under Article 8 of the Act, and reports of relocation under Article 9 of the Act may be filed by mail or facsimile transmission.
[This Article Added on Dec. 24, 2019]
Article 9(Duty of persons engaged in affairs related to the overseas Korean national register) #
A person who is or has been engaged in affairs related to overseas Korean national registration, or any other person who has come to know matters regarding overseas Korean national registration in the course of performing his or her duties, shall not divulge such matters to any other person.
Article 10(Processing of personally identifiable information) #
The Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency or the head of a registration mission may process data containing resident registration numbers or passport numbers under subparagraph 1 or 2 of Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act, if unavoidable to conduct the following business affairs: <Amended on Apr. 5, 2023>
1. Business affairs regarding registration under Article 3 of the Act;
2. Business affairs regarding the issuance of certified copies of the overseas Korean national register under Article 7 of the Act;
3. Business affairs regarding reports of modification under Article 8 of the Act;
4. Business affairs regarding reports of relocation under Article 9 of the Act;
5. Business affairs regarding reports of return under Article 9-2 of the Act;
6. Business regarding the deregistration under Article 9-3 of the Act.
[This Article Added on Dec. 24, 2019]