Lee backs electronic voting system for overseas residents

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Sunday his government will consider ways to improve voting rights for overseas Koreans, including the introduction of electronic voting.

During a meeting with Korean residents in South Africa, Lee noted that many of the roughly 4,000 Korean nationals in the country have traveled long distances to cast their ballots due to sparsely located polling stations and suggested the adoption of an electronic voting system to alleviate their inconvenience.

"In fact, there is no problem with electronic voting. Even political parties use electronic voting to elect their leaders," Lee said. "Its stability has already been verified, so there is no issue."

About 70 participants applauded in their approval of his remarks.

Lee added that the government will strengthen support for Korean communities abroad to ensure overseas nationals are not marginalized and can fully exercise their rights.

Expanding voting access for overseas Koreans through measures such as postal voting was one of Lee's presidential campaign pledges.

ejkim@yna.co.kr
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