Hwang Woo-suk: “They said, ‘Let’s have a cup of tea,’ then I received UAE citizenship ... I’ve applied to regain South Korean citizenship”

[Financial News] It has emerged that former Seoul National University professor Hwang Woo-suk lost South Korean citizenship after acquiring United Arab Emirates (UAE) citizenship. However, former Professor Hwang said that he had been granted UAE citizenship at a meeting he went to after receiving a message saying, “Let’s have a cup of tea,” and that he had applied to the Ministry of Justice to regain South Korean citizenship.
In an interview with Asia Economy on the 9th, former Professor Hwang discussed how he acquired UAE citizenship and his application to regain South Korean citizenship. “It seems the UAE has no procedures such as an application for citizenship or an in-person screening,” he said. “I received a message asking me to come for a cup of tea and went to meet them, but it turned out to be a Surprise ceremony (a surprise ceremony) to grant me citizenship.”
He added, “At the citizenship-granting ceremony, the host announced that the UAE does not in principle allow dual citizenship, but would make a special exception for me, allowing me to hold only South Korean and UAE citizenship.” Former Professor Hwang is currently the CEO of “UAE Biotech,” a biotechnology research institute in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Article 15 of the Nationality Act of the Republic of Korea stipulates that Korean nationals immediately lose their Korean citizenship if they voluntarily acquire a foreign nationality. However, under Article 9 of the Nationality Act of the Republic of Korea, overseas Koreans who meet requirements such as being at least 65 years old may retain dual citizenship after pledging not to exercise their foreign nationality.
Former Professor Hwang said he applied to regain his citizenship on the day he acquired UAE citizenship, adding, “It is up to the Ministry of Justice to decide,” and “I’m waiting, regardless of whether it is approved.”
According to the Ministry of Justice’s Cheongju Immigration and Foreigners Office on the 9th, former Professor Hwang, who was born in 1953, was officially listed as having lost South Korean citizenship on August 13. The date of loss was recorded as April 9 this year, with acquisition of UAE citizenship given as the reason.
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter