S. Korea to double education budget for nationals abroad

SEOUL, July 31 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government and the ruling Grand
National Party (GNP) agreed Friday to double educational assistance for citizens
abroad to 80 billion won (US$65 million) next year, a move some say is aimed at
winning the hearts of new voters in upcoming presidential and general elections.

South Korea revised an election law earlier this year to allow South Korean
citizens abroad to exercise their voting rights in national elections here. More
than 6.8 million South Koreans live abroad, mainly in the U.S., China, and Japan.
The government had earmarked 40 billion won this year for the publication of
Korea-related textbooks, the operation of Korean language classes and the hiring
of Korean teachers.
The government and the GNP decided at a budget policy coordination meeting
Friday, attended by Education Minister Ahn Byong-man, to increase the budget to
80 billion won next year.
"The ratio of South Koreans living outside the country (to the local population)
is 10 percent, the world's second highest after Israel," Rep. Lim Hae-kyu of the
GNP said. "They have been granted suffrage, but there has been inadequate support
for schools for South Koreans abroad."
Around 2.4 million South Koreans living overseas will be able to cast ballots in
the presidential and general elections in 2012.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)