About 350 people, including the president of the Korean Association, attended... Call for introduction of postal and electronic voting and relaxation of age for dual citizenship
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Park Hyun-soo = Korean American presidents from each region of the United States gathered in Seoul ahead of the opening of the World Korean American Presidents Conference and decided to join forces to strengthen the solidarity of the Korean American community, establish the identity of the next generation, and expand the rights of overseas Koreans.
The Korean American Association (Korean-American Association, President Seo Jeong-il) held the ‘2026 Korean-American Association Night’ at the Swiss Grand Hotel in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 26th.
About 350 people attended the event, including the president of the Korean Association of the Americas, people related to overseas Koreans at home and abroad, and officials from the Korean Associations of each continent.
In his greeting, President Seo Jeong-il said, “Establishing the identity of the next generation that will continue the 123-year history of Korean immigration to the United States is the most important project of the Association of the Americas.” He added, “Within the next 30 years, the next generation of Korean Americans will become more prominent in various fields of politics, economy, society, and culture in the United States.”
He then emphasized, “We must have pride in our Korean roots and strive to grow into leading figures in American society.”
In order to improve the rights and interests of overseas Koreans, Chairman Seo also requested improvements to the voting system for overseas elections, lowering the age for dual nationality to 40, and simplifying regulations and administrative procedures related to domestic economic activities.
In his welcoming speech, Seo Young-kyo, Chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, said, "The introduction of electronic voting and postal voting is absolutely necessary to guarantee the right to vote for overseas Koreans," and promised support at the National Assembly level to secure the budget for the Office of Overseas Koreans and ease the age for dual nationality.
Kim Gyeong-hyeop, head of the Overseas Koreans' Office, emphasized the unity of the Korean-American community in his congratulatory address, saying, "The power of 100 organized people has more practical influence than the scattered 10,000 people."
Commissioner Kim said, “If the 2.6 million Korean-Americans come together as one, they can have a real influence not only in strengthening Korea-U.S. relations but also in resolving issues of residence status, permanent residency, and citizenship for Korean-Americans,” and added, “The General Assembly of the Americas must serve as a focal point that broadly encompasses and connects Korean-American organizations in various fields, including the economy, civil society, culture and arts, and the next generation.”
Koh Sang-gu, president of the World Korean Federation, also called for harmony and solidarity, saying, “The 2.6 million Korean-American community must unite as one to receive substantial support from the government.”
In addition, congratulatory speeches were given by Kim Deok-ryong, Chairman of the World Federation of Korean Merchants, and Hwang Byeong-gu, President of the Korean Federation of Korean Merchants in the Americas.
Kim Beom-soo, director of the Institute for Unification and Peace at Seoul National University, emphasized guaranteeing suffrage for overseas Koreans in his keynote speech.
Director Kim said, “There are opposing opinions that are concerned about proxy voting, election fraud, and management difficulties when introducing mail-in voting,” but also argued for the introduction of mail-in voting and electronic and online voting, saying, “The basic constitutional rights of overseas Koreans should not be restricted due to the possibility of fraud in a very small number.”
Meanwhile, as a side event, soprano Kim Jeong-sook sang the national anthems of both countries and played Arirang to the accompaniment of Shin Eun-sook (daegeum), Ahn Eun-sook (piano), Kang Su-ji (haegeum), and Ahn Hyo-kyung (janggu) from the New York Future Summit. Additionally, the six-member boy group NBIG, a public relations ambassador for the General Association of the Americas, performed.
