Naturalization Interview Screening Suspended Due to COVID-19 to Resume from the 6th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Naturalization interview screenings, which were suspended due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) crisis, will resume from the 6th.

The Ministry of Justice stated on the 3rd, "As the infectious disease situation prolongs, the inconvenience for applicants seeking nationality acquisition has increased," and added, "From the 6th, naturalization interview screenings will restart under thorough quarantine measures."

Before resuming the interview screenings, the Ministry of Justice disinfected the interview rooms at immigration and foreigner offices nationwide and installed partitions as part of strict quarantine measures. The number of interviewees per office is also limited to fewer than 10 per day.

Naturalization interview screenings had been suspended for over two months since February 24, when the COVID-19 spread intensified. As a result, about 6,200 applicants have been waiting for their interviews for an extended period.

The previously suspended 'Social Integration Program Comprehensive Evaluation' will also be specially conducted on the 23rd. This evaluation tests basic competencies such as Korean language proficiency and understanding of Korean culture, which all foreigners seeking Korean nationality must pass.

The Ministry of Justice added, "Other tasks currently suspended, such as the nationality certificate awarding ceremony, will also be gradually normalized while complying with the government's COVID-19 quarantine guidelines."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.