Thorough Preparation Needed to Minimize Side Effects

Korean citizens abroad can exercise their voting rights in presidential and general elections as early as 2012 after the National Assembly passed a revision bill Thursday to grant suffrage to them. The passage was in response to a June 2007 ruling by the Constitutional Court that recognized overseas citizens' rights to vote in their motherland's elections.

Lawmakers and politicians are required to better realize the true meaning of expanding suffrage to Korean nationals living outside the country. First of all, the rewritten election law is designed to accept overseas Koreans as the same as those living in the country. In this sense, it is natural that Koreans living in other countries enjoy their rights to participate in elections as long as they maintain Korean citizenship.

Of course, some may argue that Koreans residing abroad are not entitled to suffrage because they neither pay taxes to their motherland nor carry out other duties, including compulsory military service. But we have to leave such arguments behind since the Assembly approved their voting rights following the court decision. It is futile to re-ignite such a debate on this matter.

Now is the time for us to work together to successfully implement the changed law so that our brethren living abroad can actively participate in Korea's political process without a hitch. For this, lawmakers and politicians should change their attitude. They should not see overseas Koreans as just a head count to collect more votes. They had better recognize them as citizens having the same suffrage rights as local residents.

As many as 2.4 million citizens abroad will be given voting rights when the changed law goes into effect. The number represents 6.3 percent of the nation's 37.8 million voters. The first thing is to make a voters list and set rules on how to vote. The government plans to permit them to cast their ballots at polling stations to be installed at Korean embassies and other designated locations.

More important is how to allow candidates to stage their campaign targeting overseas Koreans. Another issue is how to ensure fair elections and how to crack down on unfair and illegal electioneering. Is it possible to apply the Korean law to those staying abroad? Thus, the country must work out detailed measures to tackle such problems.

We also cannot ignore the increasing campaign costs. The governing Grand National Party has already started setting up their overseas networks to attract supporters in preparation for the next elections. The main opposition Democratic Party is seeking to set up an agency for overseas Koreans within the government. There is also the possibility of earmarking proportional representation Assembly seats for overseas Koreans.

One of the possible side effects is that overseas Koreans might suffer divisive political conflicts, as is often seen in the dilapidated political landscape at home. This could do harm to the integration of Korean communities abroad. We hope that suffrage rights will help increase overseas citizens' contribution to the nation's development and globalization. Most of all, they need to be encouraged to engage in closer interactions with their motherland's politics, economy, business, education and culture.