Ministry of Justice, giving foreigners the right to vote in local elections?”

The Ministry of Justice has expressed its position that the current election system in Korea, which gives foreigners with permanent residency the right to vote in local elections, needs to be reformed.

The reason why foreigners are given the right to vote in local elections is because foreigners are also residents of the region. However, if this is abolished, it is the same as not recognizing foreigners as local residents. It will be so sad when this happens.

Recently, National Assembly member Jo Jung-hoon asked the Ministry of Justice, “Are you considering abolishing foreign suffrage based on reciprocity?”

In response, the Ministry of Justice responded in writing, saying, “Korea grants local voting rights to foreigners who have obtained permanent residency and have been there for three or more years, but most of our citizens living abroad do not have the right to vote, which is unreasonable.” It is necessary to promote the reorganization of the permanent residency system based on the principle of reciprocity.”

The current law in Korea grants the right to vote in local elections to foreigners aged 18 or older, three years after obtaining a permanent residence (F-5) visa

As of March this year, a total of 126,668 foreigners have the right to vote in local elections.

Of these, 99,969 people (78.9%) are of Chinese nationality, and if the suffrage rights of foreign permanent residents are actually abolished, it seems that up to 100,000 Chinese voters will lose their voting rights.

In the 8th local elections held last June, the foreign voter turnout was 13.3%, which was about a quarter of the total turnout (50.9%). It is regrettable that foreigners should take the lead and voice more by voting in local elections.

On the other hand, unlike the position of the Ministry of Justice, it is said that there are many countries other than Korea that grant foreign nationals the right to vote in local elections

According to a report published in April by the National Assembly Research Service, at least 40 countries, including EU member states, Norway, Russia and New Zealand, grant suffrage to foreigners who meet certain requirements.

I hope the Ministry of Justice will not implement the wrong policy of depriving foreigners of the right to vote.