Diplomatic missions are urging expatriates in the UAE to register before the election, which is scheduled to take place from December 5 to 10 at the South Korean Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai. Residents above the age of 19 are eligible to cast their votes.
Officials stressed that the deadline for registration is on October 20 and it can be done at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the consulate in Dubai or via e-mail.
However, the diplomatic missions have received only 500 registrations so far.
The registration process began on July 22 this year, according to In Ho Kim, Vice-Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai.
Kim said there are about 9,000 South Koreans residing in the UAE. He said the applicants have to submit a completed overseas absentee application to the nearest diplomatic mission in person, by mail and email with a copy of passport, added Kim.
A statement issued by the consulate said all overseas Koreans aged 19 or older (born before December 21, 1993) who are registered as residents or whose domestic residence is eligible for overseas absentee ballot.
"We have received 500 registrations so far. But we are expecting a huge rush towards the end of this week and the next week," added Ho Kim. He added that the diplomatic missions have been running advertising campaigns in the two Korean newspapers circulated in the UAE. "We have been running ads in the Gulf Korea Times and other papers. But people leave these things for the last minute," said Kim. Kim added that absentee voting was well received among Korean expatriates in the UAE. "After they register for voting, we will mail them profiles and other campaign details of the presidential candidates," said Kim.
The Korean Consulate will remain open on October 19 and 20 from 9am to 6pm and extend the open hour to 6pm from October 14 to 18. For registration via email, applicants have to send a photocopy of passport and the form to dubai@mofat.go.kr.
The form can be downloaded at are-dubai.mofat.go.kr or ok.nec.go.kr. Only own registration is acceptable by email.
The 18th Republic of Korea presidential election will be held on December 19. The main candidates are Park Geun-hye, Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo.
