GNP makes plans to gather votes overseas
Published: 25 Oct. 2009, 21:17
The ruling Grand National Party has asked its representatives to help gain support of Korean voters residing overseas, a move that the opposition Democratic Party argues is a violation of election campaign laws.
The JoongAng Ilbo has learned that 114 GNP lawmakers have been tasked with trying to win over Korean voters living abroad. Under a recent change to the election law, Korean citizens residing in foreign countries may vote in presidential, general and regional elections if they’ve retained their Korean resident registration.
The 2012 general elections will be the first opportunity for Korean immigrants to cast their ballots from overseas. The National Election Commission estimates that up to 2.3 million Koreans will be eligible to vote from outside Korea.
Rep. An Kyung-ryul, who heads the special committee on overseas voters, said the party aims to “foster communication and exchange with Koreans living in foreign countries.”
The ruling party plans to kick-start its activities with the eighth World Korean Business Convention in Incheon, where about 1,500 Korean entrepreneurs from overseas will gather to mingle with other business figures. An plans to travel to Washington, D.C. next month for a convention hosted by the U.S. wing of the World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations. The Democratic Party is crying foul. The DP’s Park Joo-sun charged that the GNP had already begun forming party organizations within Korean communities Stateside.
“The GNP must stop its [illegal] pre-campaign activities that have caused friction and division among Koreans overseas,” Park said.
GNP lawmaker Kim Tae-won acknowledged that overseas Koreans have voiced their concern over possible division of their communities, and have asked for senior representatives, even potential presidential candidates, to manage their regions.
Kim Hyung-joon, a political science professor at Myongji University in Seoul, said overheated campaigns by the parties could instead encourage apathy among overseas voters.
By Kang Joo-an, Im Jang-hyuk [[email protected]]
The JoongAng Ilbo has learned that 114 GNP lawmakers have been tasked with trying to win over Korean voters living abroad. Under a recent change to the election law, Korean citizens residing in foreign countries may vote in presidential, general and regional elections if they’ve retained their Korean resident registration.
The 2012 general elections will be the first opportunity for Korean immigrants to cast their ballots from overseas. The National Election Commission estimates that up to 2.3 million Koreans will be eligible to vote from outside Korea.
Rep. An Kyung-ryul, who heads the special committee on overseas voters, said the party aims to “foster communication and exchange with Koreans living in foreign countries.”
The ruling party plans to kick-start its activities with the eighth World Korean Business Convention in Incheon, where about 1,500 Korean entrepreneurs from overseas will gather to mingle with other business figures. An plans to travel to Washington, D.C. next month for a convention hosted by the U.S. wing of the World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations. The Democratic Party is crying foul. The DP’s Park Joo-sun charged that the GNP had already begun forming party organizations within Korean communities Stateside.
“The GNP must stop its [illegal] pre-campaign activities that have caused friction and division among Koreans overseas,” Park said.
GNP lawmaker Kim Tae-won acknowledged that overseas Koreans have voiced their concern over possible division of their communities, and have asked for senior representatives, even potential presidential candidates, to manage their regions.
Kim Hyung-joon, a political science professor at Myongji University in Seoul, said overheated campaigns by the parties could instead encourage apathy among overseas voters.
By Kang Joo-an, Im Jang-hyuk [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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