내일부터 6일간 재외선거투표+후보별 재외동포 공약 조명
Starting today, overseas Koreans who have registered to vote will be able to cast their ballots in the May ninth presidential election.
Polling stations will be open in one-hundred-16 countries around the world until April 30th.
And with that... the major candidates started off their week highlighting their specific pledges that appeal to this group of voters.
Ji Myung-kil tells us more.
Democratic Party of Korea candidate Moon Jae-in has vowed to set up an agency for overseas Koreans under either the interior or the foreign ministry.
The agency would expand financial support to Korean schools abroad and strengthen the global network of Korean nationals.
Moon also promised to set up extra diplomatic offices around the world in locations frequented by Korean tourists.
Liberty Korea's Hong Joon-pyo has plans for a similar agency that would be set up under the prime minister's office.
The agency would provide overseas Koreans with educational support, foster exchange projects and supervise overseas voting procedures.
Hong also promised to build a museum dedicated to overseas Koreans.
The People's Party's Ahn Cheol-soo wants to establish a presidential committee for overseas Koreans.
Ahn pledged financial support to Korean students studying abroad to help with their tuition.
He also said he would expand the rights of Koreans who have permanent residency abroad, for example by increasing the number of polling booths and introducing a vote-by-mail system.
On the security front, Ahn promised to beef up protections for Koreans living abroad.
The Bareun Party's Yoo Seong-min says he will keep the Overseas Koreans Foundation under the foreign ministry.
He promised to boost pride in the Korean identity among overseas Koreans and revitalize cultural exchanges.
He also vowed to improve consular services and diplomatic protections for overseas Koreans.
The Justice Party's Sim Sang-jung promised to set up an independent agency for overseas Koreans that would provide legal aid to overseas Koreans and Koreans traveling abroad.
She also said she would consider expanding the number of countries eligible for dual citizenship for applicants who pay taxes in Korea and for men who complete their mandatory military service.
A record number 294-thousand overseas Koreans are expected to vote in the presidential election this year.
Ji Myung-kil, Arirang News.
