= Voting held in 96 polling stations in 66 countries around the world for 86,040 registered overseas voters =

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea announced that overseas voting for the 21st National Assembly elections is taking place from April 1 to April 6 at 96 polling stations in 66 countries around the world. The polling started at the embassy in Fiji at 5am Korean time on April 1. The number of overseas voters in the relevant regions is 86,040, which amounts to around 50.0 percent of the total 171,959 overseas voters

The NEC decided to suspend overseas election operations at 86 overseas missions (as of April 1) until April 6, including the Embassy to the United States, where it has been deemed difficult to conduct a normal overseas voting, for example if there was an official position taken by the host country concerned about the conduct of overseas elections due to the rapid deterioration of the COVID-19 situation or due to concerns for the safety of overseas Koreans due to increasing restrictions in those countries. 

Overseas voters who cast their ballots must bring an identification document such as a passport, a resident registration card or a foreign registration card so that they can be identified by their photo, own name and date of birth. In particular those overseas voters such as permanent residents abroad must also bring an original documentation that is listed by the overseas voting polling managers in the diplomatic mission to check their nationality along with a form of ID such as visa or residence certificate.

The NEC urged voters to check the relevant diplomatic mission’s homepage for further details, as the voting period at the polling stations will vary by mission up until April 6.

Information on candidates and political parties can be found on the NEC website (http://ok.nec.go.kr) or on the bulletin boards or website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and each diplomatic mission. Details on candidates’ policies and pledges can be   found on the policy and pledges information site (http://policy.nec.go.kr/).

The NEC said that it will do its best to ensure that overseas Koreans can vote safely, including disinfecting overseas voting polling stations and periodically disinfecting equipment at polling stations and asked overseas Koreans visiting overseas polling stations to be thorough in personal hygiene, including wearing masks. ​