The voter registration of overseas Koreans for the presidential election in December ended Saturday (local time) with the registration rate marking 9.7 percent, or nearly 220,000, according to the National Election Commission on Sunday.

The figure is up from 5.6 percent, or around 120,000, in the general election in April.

Registration was available at overseas commissions in 107 countries for around 2.2 million eligible voters.

As the overseas electorate could play a critical role in the election, the three major candidates are expected to make last-minute efforts to earn their votes.

The ruling Saenuri Party presidential candidate Park Geun-hye is focused on practical policies for expatriates. Her pledges include expanding the age limit so more overseas Koreans are able to have dual citizenship, issuing identification cards for overseas Koreas, and creating a loan program for young students studying abroad in financial difficulty.

“Park suggested visiting nations where many Koreans live in November. The party will appeal to the voters that she is the one who can proceed with the party’s pledges,” said Won Yoo-chul, head of the Saenuri Party’s overseas nationals committee.

The Democratic United Party’s candidate Rep. Moon Jae-in’s major appeal to the overseas voters is education such as supporting Korean schools and language education for the Korean youth in foreign nations.

“Korean people living in countries, such as China, Southeast Asia, and Japan are in need of Korean education for their kids. It is more practical to support language education and provide financial aid to schools for expats than to lower the age limit for dual citizenship, which will basically benefit only the limited number of people in the U.S.,” said Chung Kwang-il, the secretary general of the central committee of democratic congress of global Koreans.

The DUP embarks on an election committee for expatriates on Monday to represent the overseas Koreans in each region.

Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo participated in various events reaching out to overseas Koreans.

Ahn said at the 11th World Korean Business Convention last Tuesday that he will revamp the voting system for overseas Koreans and make a law to protect their safety and rights.

He also had an online meeting with Koreans living in such countries as the U.S., Norway and Japan.

“The wish for change exists in the minds of Koreans overseas. We will make use of online networks for now and will come up with other projects for them,” said Yoo Min-young, spokesperson of Ahn.

The election for overseas Koreans is held for 10 days from Dec. 5 and the presidential election is held on Dec. 19.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)