By Park Hye Ri and Kim MinJi

Joseonjok, or ethnic Koreans from China, and hwagyo, or ethnic Chinese residents of Korea, from April 11 will have their names written in both English and Korean on their alien registration cards (ARCs), the Ministry of Justice said on March 28.

The measure is intended to resolve problems arising from the two types of residents not having their names in Korean on their IDs. The service will be expanded to all Joseonjok with Chinese nationality, hwagyo and any ethnic Korean who held Korean nationality in the past.

A ministry source said, "After standardizing the writing of Korean names on ARCs, we will expand and provide this service to all foreign residents of Korea."

In principle, such people had on their ARCs their names in English as written in their passports, and only those with officially registered Korean names could have their names written in English and Korean on the cards.

This, however, created confusion for many Joseonjok with Chinese nationality and hwagyo when filling out documents or forms and identifying themselves since their ARCs showed their names in English only. Thus the ministry granted their requests to have their names written in both English and Korean.

Before Oct. 22, 1998, about 60,000 Joseonjok with Korean names in official Korean documents such as a family register and who completed alien registration that included children under age 10 had their names written in Korean on their IDs.

Furthermore, the ministry said ethnic Koreans classified as Korean Chinese in official Chinese documents will have their names written in Korean on their ARCs, while hwagyo can add their names in Korean at their discretion.

Applicants can register their names in Korean on their ARCs by bringing their IDs and filling out the necessary paperwork at Korea Immigration Service offices. A first-time registrant can request having his or her name in Korean written on the ARC when applying for one.

hrhr@korea.kr