The Justice Ministry said Monday Guus Hiddink, former head coach of the national soccer team, and other foreigners who have rendered meritorious service to Korea will be accorded permanent residence in the country. The ministry said it would revise a decree implementing Immigration Law so that those foreign citizens who are deemed as having given the nation distinguished service may be granted permanent residence. Under the new decree to be passed by the Cabinet, those foreigners who are credited with having given special and outstanding contributions to the nation will be given permanent residence upon request even if they have not fulfilled the Immigration Law criteria of having lived here for at least five years. Foreigners with permanent residence will be accorded the same treatment as that afforded to Koreans with permanent residence in the home countries of the foreigners based on the principle of reciprocity. Those foreigners seeking permanent residence will also be allowed to maintain their own citizenship.