재외동포의 법률적 범주에 관한 고찰 - 재일동포와 북한이탈주민을 대상으로- = A Study on the Legal Categories of Overseas Koreans: Focusing on Japanese-Koreans and North Korean Defectors

국문 초록 (Abstract)

이 연구의 목적은 재외동포기본법, 재외동포법, 재외국민등록법상에서 재일동포, 북한이탈주민, 재일동포 출신 북한이탈주민, 기타 주재원과 유학생을 대상으로 재외동포의 법률적 범주를 검토하는 데 있었다. 연구 결과는 다음과 같다.
첫째, 재일동포의 경우 재외동포기본법을 기준으로 재외동포의 범주에 포함되었다. 재외동포법을 기준으로 대한민국 국적의 재일동포는 재외국민으로 일본 국적의 재일동포는 외국국적동포로 분류하여 재외동포의 범주에 포함되었지만, 조선적인 경우 재외동포에 포함되지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 북한이탈주민의경우 재외동포기본법의 기준으로 재외동포의 범주에 해당하였다. 또한, 재외동포법 기준에 따르면 재외국민으로서 재외동포에 해당되었다. 셋째, 재일동포 출신북한이탈주민의 경우 재외동포기본법은 조선적 또는 일본국적을 유지하고 있는재일동포를 재외동포의 범주에 포함하고 있다. 재외동포법을 기준으로 보면 이들은 북한으로 이주하기 전에 조선적을 보유한 경우 재외국민이나 외국국적동포에포함되지 않았다. 그러나 일본국적을 보유한 경우 외국국적동포에 해당하여 재외동포에 포함되었다. 넷째, 주재원이나 유학생은 재외동포기본법에서는 재외동포에 포함되었다. 그러나 재외동포법에서는 재외동포로서의 범주가 모호하다. 재외국민등록법에서는 재외국민에 해당하였다.
결론적으로 이 연구는 재외동포기본법과 재외동포법, 그리고 재외국민등록법상의 재외동포에 대한 새로운 법률적 범주의 재고가 필요함을 시사하고 있다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of this study was to examine the legal categories of overseas Koreans under the Basic Law on Overseas Koreans, the Overseas Koreans Act, and the Overseas Nationals Registration Act, targeting Japanese-Koreans, North Korean defectors, North Korean defectors of Japanese-Korean, and other overseas Koreans and international students.
The results of the study are as follows.
First, in the case of Japanese-Koreans, they were included in the category of overseas Koreans based on the Basic Act on Overseas Koreans.
Based on the Overseas Koreans Act, Koreans living in Japan with Korean nationality were classified as overseas nationals, and Japanese-Koreans with Japanese nationality were classified as foreign nationals, and thus were included in the category of overseas Koreans. However, in the case of Chosun, they were not included in the category of overseas Koreans.
Second, in the case of North Korean defectors, they were classified as overseas Koreans according to the Overseas Compatriots Basic Law. In addition, according to the Overseas Compatriots Act, they were considered overseas Koreans as overseas nationals. Third, in the case of North Korean defectors of Korean descent in Japan, the Basic Law on Overseas Koreans includes Koreans in Japan who maintain Korean nationality or Japanese nationality in the category of overseas Koreans. Based on the Overseas Koreans Act, if they had Korean nationality before moving to North Korea, they were not included in overseas nationals or foreign nationals. However, if they had Japanese nationality, they were included in overseas Koreans as foreign nationals. Fourth, the overseas Koreans and overseas students are included in the overseas Koreans in the Overseas Koreans Basic Law.
However, the category of overseas Koreans in the Overseas Koreans Law is ambiguous. In the Overseas Koreans Registration Law, they are considered overseas Koreans.
In conclusion, this study suggests that there is a need to reconsider the new legal categories of overseas Koreans under the Basic Act on Overseas Koreans, the Overseas Koreans Act, and the Overseas Nationals Registration Act.