Handonghun: "Reform Needed for Foreign Voting Rights System That 'Distorts Public Opinion'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] On the 1st, Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, stated that it is necessary to reform the current election system that grants local election voting rights to foreign nationals with permanent residency status.

Minister Han said during his commute home in the afternoon, "We need to correct flawed systems to enable a flexible immigration policy." Under current law, foreigners aged 18 or older who have held an F-5 permanent residency visa for more than three years are granted local election voting rights.

Minister Han referred to overseas cases such as the United States, France, and Canada, where strict conditions are imposed on voting rights for permanent residents, explaining, "Our citizens do not have voting rights in those countries even if they hold permanent residency, but the nationals of those countries may have voting rights here. Granting voting rights to foreigners without considering the principle of reciprocity can distort public opinion."

He added, "Since there is no mandatory residence requirement in the current system, once a person obtains permanent residency, even if they do not live in Korea and return to their home country, they still have voting rights in our local elections. To resolve this unfairness, we are carefully considering introducing a mandatory residence period as a condition for maintaining permanent residency." However, he emphasized, "This does not mean we want to be inflexible about foreign nationals entering the country. It is about correcting flawed systems and reorganizing related policies."