Leaders of overseas Korean communities on Tuesday called for improvements in the absentee voting process to boost their participation in the December presidential election.

They stressed the need for the government to devise new voting methods that are easier yet secure, such as post, proxy or electronic systems.

“Many overseas Koreans demand improvements in the system because they have a hard time making two trips to cast their vote between the diplomatic missions and their homes far away,” said Kim Kyung-keun, president of the Overseas Korean Foundation, at a forum in Seoul.

“Since election schemes are an extremely critical issue and difficult to modify once they’re established, we should upgrade it over time rather than push for an immediate, drastic change.”

Around 400 Korean businesspeople and politicians from 72 countries took part in the annual World Korean Community Leaders Convention in Seoul, which is designed to expand exchanges and cooperation between Korean communities abroad. The four-day event is hosted by the state-run OKF and sponsored by the Foreign Ministry.

Koreans living abroad were for the first time allowed to cast ballots in a domestic general election on April 11 after related legislation was passed by the National Assembly in 2009.

Polling stations were set up at 158 diplomatic offices in 107 countries by the National Election Commission with the help of the Foreign Ministry. 

However, a dismal turnout stoked controversy over the 30 billion won ($26.1 million) vote’s feasibility and efficiency.

Of the 2.23 million eligible Koreans, a mere 6 percent signed up and less than half of the registered voters marked their ballots, according to the NEC.

Under the current rules, voters are required to show up at a designated diplomatic office twice ― first to enroll themselves over a span of three months and then to post their vote during a one-week period.

But the number of voting booths is deemed too few. In India, for instance, Koreans must travel to either New Delhi or Mumbai. Australia also houses only two balloting places in Sydney and Canberra.

Critics add that it bears little meaning and practical significance to keep overseas residents politically tied to their homeland instead of the place they chose to live in.

“In Africa, one single mission serves a couple other neighboring countries at the same time. It’s unrealistic for residents to get a visa and fly over there to take part in an election,” said Lim Do-jae, head of the Africa-Mideast Korean community based in Ghana.

Authorities say the system facilitates overseas Koreans’ legal right, as defined by the Constitutional Court in a 2007 ruling. Lackluster participation and high costs are inevitable as they tend to have little interest in local politics, non-presidential races in particular, they say.

“The constitution requires the government and its affiliated agencies to come up with measures to enable all nationals to practice their voting rights,” Jeong Hoon-gyo, director general of the NEC’s overseas election department, said before the April vote.

“The overseas voting system is not an option but a legal necessity, which may not be aborted for cost factors.”

The community leaders said they plan to have meetings during their stay here with lawmakers, experts and related agencies to discuss how best to develop the current scheme.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)