Most Koreans with dual citizenship use American passports when entering or leaving Korea, a survey finds. According to a report released by the Justice Ministry last Friday based on a survey of 514 dual citizenship holders in the country, 80.6 percent of respondents said they use foreign passports when entering or leaving Korea, compared to a mere 14.5 percent who use their Korean passports.

Some 95.1 percent of respondents had American citizenship and 3.9 percent Canadian passports. Some 13.2 percent said they would give up their Korean citizenship if forced to choose, slightly more than the 10.9 percent who said they would give up their foreign citizenship. The majority or 76 percent were undecided.

Most of those who said they would choose Korean citizenship cited their ethnic identity or business in Korea as reasons. Those who would choose their foreign citizenship cited advantages in education or finding jobs or benefits when studying or living abroad.

Asked what they would think of when choosing one citizenship, 41.8 percent of respondents cited education and jobs, followed by living environment with 13.6 percent and business with 13.4 percent.

Under the current law, Koreans with dual citizenship have to choose one citizenship within two years, or those under 20 before they are 22.