Overseas Korean residents will be able to register with the government through the Internet as early as next month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.
Since the Constitutional Court has ruled elections law banning suffrage of overseas Koreans was unconstitutional late last month, the government has sought to facilitate their registration.
``People will be able to register on the Web site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as early as late next month, and foreign missions will complete their registration system by October,'' a ministry official said.
The plan is intended to prepare for overseas absentee voting. Currently voters overseas have to visit a diplomatic mission to register, which prevents 100 percent registration due to the inconvenience.
Meanwhile, the Korean Consulate General in Qingdao will open an online registration for overseas Koreans next week becoming the first foreign mission to introduce the system.
If a Korean registers on the consulate's Web site, he or she will automatically be eligible for absentee voting in the future, the consulate said.