Identity Vs. Nationality

This year marks my fifth year since I came to Korea in 1995 to live with my Korean spouse.

The years have been fruitful as far as learning how to live with the culture is concerned. Though not easy, I had, at least, achieved some degree of social and cultural adjustments that now enable me how to deal with various aspects of Korean life. Yes, gone are those days when I thought that Koreans are simply weird.

Now, when I think of the things that make life difficult here, it is not the culture anymore, for indeed, there is more baffling than the culture itself.

What is clear to me now are the inconsistencies and biases of Korea's immigration law vis-a-vis the legal status given to its alien residents here. I am not referring to the aliens who come here primarily for business purposes. I am talking about the aliens who come to Korea to live with their Korean spouses.

What is quite perplexing is the fact that this country's immigration law has its own chosen people. Alien spouses are somewhat categorized between "favored" and "un-favored" groups. The basis of this categorization obviously stems from what countries do these aliens come from.

If you belong to the "favored" race, the law bestows some truly special privileges. Privileges may include working permits and multiple re-entries, without pressuring them to renounce their nationalities and apply for Korean naturalization. Not in the case of the "unfavored" ones.

If you are un-favored alien, these are the undeserving punishments that you have to face: First, You have to undergo the annual or bi-annual visa renewal. Application is not free, of course, and the process is highly bureaucratic. Second, you cannot go out of the country any time you want. You have to drop by the Immigration Office in Mokdong to get a re-entry permit, or else, the Immigration Office at the Kimpo Airport will withhold you from departing until you have settled your account. Yes, a re-entry permit is not free, and to tell you, the cost is atrocious.

Cases of individual alien spouses enormously varied. This make the law perplexing, and the loopholes become more glaring, more evident, and more absurd than you can ever imagine.

For these unfortunate spouses, the only way to be freed from these burdens is for them to renounce their nationalities and apply for Korean naturalization. Yes, they have to be "Koreanized".

For five years, I have been consistent in my stand not to renounce my nationality. I had withstood all these atrocious requirements needed to maintain my alien resident status here.

Have I been so foolish for all these years to pay the costs? Why not just renounce my Filipino citizenship and become a naturalized Korean instead? Have I ever thought that to be a Korean is such a bad idea?

I had deeply pondered on the pros and cons of having a naturalized Korean citizenship long time ago. While it is true that there are immediate benefits, in the long run, the pitfalls and shortcomings are equally terrifying.

First, I am fully aware of the fact that no matter what kind of document that gives prrof that I am already a Korean, the blood running in my veins that never deny the race where I truly belong which, in any way, can nenver be a Korean.

Second, the co-existence of cultures, philosophy, and races in this land is still far beyond reach. We have to face the fact that despite of the cries for globalization, the soul of every Korean is still haunted by its legacy of homogeneity and history of 5,000 years.

Third, I had thought about old age, before I close my eyes for eternal sleep. Would I be willing to be buried among the tombstones of the great Korean hal-abojis next to my spouse. Would my soul be really resting in peace at the thought that I was not buried in the land of my birth? Things will change, including my perspective in life. I will mellow as I age, I know. But still, things like this are indeed mind-boggling.

Next year would be a moment of truth when my two years visa again expires. Shall I keep on the process of extending my visa? Shall I be paying the cost for a lifetime, and yes for eternity? I am not exactly sure, except that I know that I can no longer afford to comply with the procedures and costs of maintaining my alien resident status here. And the only option left for me is to be indeed "Koreanized". And it would be like stripping off my old "Filipiniana" gown and put on instead a "hanbook" though how pretty and elegantly made would never fit into my very nature.