The law of the franchise to overseas residents provides expatriate voting rights to Koreans who are living abroad during the elections of the president or members of the National Assembly. Citizens who want to vote should be 19 years of age or older on the election day and should declare foreign absentee status by registering to vote.
The law on the franchise to overseas residents has been implemented for the first time in the 19th election of the members of the National Assembly. It provides the basic right to vote described in the Constitution, promotes democracy, extends rights to overseas citizens, and satisfies global demands in this globalization era. The law of the franchise to overseas residents for the 19th election was administered in 158 official residences and alternative facilities over the world. The total turnout of the franchise to overseas residents was 42.1% in the district system and 45.7% in the proportional representation system. Results showed that the Saenuri Party received 40.4%, followed by the Democratic Unionist Party with 35.2%, the Unified Progressive Party with 14.5%, the Liberty Forward Party with 1.6%, and all others with 8.3%.
