Due to a campaign led by the organization Global Overseas Adoptees’ Link (G.O.A.’L), South Korea now allows for overseas Korean adoptees to regain their Korean citizenship.

Until now, Korean babies and children who were adopted out of the country automatically lost their Korean citizenship, sparking a debate as to whether these children could consent to give up their standing as Korean citizens. With this new legislation, Yonhap reports that Korean adoptees can apply to maintain dual citizenship for Korea and their home countries.

Granting dual citizenship undoubtedly helps mend the gap between adoptees and their birth country and signifies Korea’s attempt to accept all Koreans regardless of where they may live. To Korean adoptees who were brought to the U.S., the term “Korean-American” becomes a true representation of a dual identity since they now legally belong to two different countries.

[Photo: Justice Ministry/Yonhap]