[TexasN โ€?Special Feature] The 21st presidential election for overseas Koreans will be held from Tuesday, February 20 to Sunday, February 25. As overseas voting begins, key issues such as expanded voting rights, enhanced protections for overseas Koreans, and fair, nonpartisan support for public diplomacy have resurfaced as urgent priorities in Korean American communities.

In light of these pressing concerns, TexasN conducted a written interview with Lee Ki-heon, Chair of the Democratic Partyโ€™s Committee for Overseas Koreans, to discuss presidential candidate Lee Jae-myungโ€™s pledges for overseas Koreans and current policy challenges facing Korean diaspora communities.

Q: What is your stance on introducing mail-in voting for overseas Koreans? How likely is it?

I deeply sympathize with the long-standing demand for mail-in voting, one of the most important unresolved issues for overseas Koreans. The current system, which relies on in-person voting at consulates or a very limited number of polling sites, makes it nearly impossible for many citizens to exercise their voting rights, especially in geographically large countries like the United States.

In the 21st National Assembly, mail-in voting legislation came close to passing but ultimately fell short. Now, in the 22nd Assembly, a revised amendment to the Public Official Election Act has been introduced once again.

This issue goes beyond convenience โ€?it is a matter of fulfilling a constitutional right. The Constitutional Court has clearly ruled that restricting voting rights based on where a citizen lives violates the Constitution. We must ensure that meaningful voting access for overseas citizens is seriously addressed through legislative reform, and I will work to keep this issue on the agenda in the National Assembly.

Q: What plans do you have for protecting overseas Koreans in the face of immigration enforcement? And what about Korean adoptee rights?

With stricter immigration policies in the United States, Korean green card holders and international students have increasingly been subject to detention or deportation. In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Overseas Koreans Agency have been strengthening consular support systems, expanding partnerships with local institutions, and improving rights-based education for Korean residents abroad.

In the National Assembly, we will monitor whether these policies are working effectively in the field and make legislative and institutional improvements where needed.

Regarding adoptee rights, the revised adoption law set to take effect this July marks a major transition from a private-led to a state-led adoption system. However, many gaps remain โ€?particularly in the areas of the right to know one’s origins, finding birth families, and resolving the legal status of adoptees whose parents never applied for U.S. citizenship.

These issues place many Korean adoptees in a vulnerable position. I am committed to strengthening Koreaโ€™s national responsibility to adoptees and addressing these blind spots through future legislation and policy.

Q: What is your response to concerns about political bias in public diplomacy funding for overseas groups?

Public diplomacy does not belong to any one government or political party. It should be a civil-led platform that belongs to all overseas Koreans. If public diplomacy funds are distributed based on political alignment, that is not diplomacy โ€?itโ€™s favoritism disguised as policy.

I will work to build a transparent and fair support system, including:

• Clear criteria for selecting recipient organizations

• Expansion of the Overseas Koreans Agency budget

• An evaluation process that is independent of political influence

Public diplomacy should uplift diverse Korean voices abroad โ€?not divide them.

A Message to Overseas Korean Voters

To our fellow overseas citizens and absentee voters:

Your vote is more than a ballot โ€?itโ€™s a journey across oceans. The determination it takes to travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometers to vote โ€?sometimes at the cost of your livelihood โ€?is the true foundation of Korean democracy.

This presidential election is not merely a change of leadership. It is a defining moment that will determine whether Korea can move forward. We must build a Korea that upholds democracy, advances global innovation, unites its people, and makes all overseas Koreans proud.

Let us make that future a reality together. I ask for your trust and support for Lee Jae-myung, a candidate committed to restoring rights and opportunity for all Koreans โ€?no matter where they live.

Thank you.

This article is based on written responses provided by Rep. Lee Ki-heon, Chair of the Democratic Partyโ€™s Committee for Overseas Koreans.
Translation and editing by TexasN. ย Catherine Wahrmund [email protected]