<1 million signature campaign to enact the ‘Basic Act for Overseas Koreans’> - With the increase of transnational migration, the Republic of Korea is now reaching out to approximately 7.5 million Koreans living overseas. They are compatriots who had to leave their homeland amid historical and cultural difficulties and challenges in the past. The country has not properly embraced them, but they always loved their homeland and devoted themselves to it until the very end. They contributed to the development of the country through active work and public diplomacy in politics, economy, education, culture, and media, as well as overcoming the foreign exchange crisis, including the independence movement during the Japanese colonial period. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Republic of Korea exists today thanks to overseas Koreans. The Republic of Korea, that is taking off as an advanced power, should immediately realize that it has a historical responsibility to embrace overseas Koreans and to provide broad support. In the past, major diaspora-emitting countries in the world, such as Israel, China, and India, have been in the forefront of comprehensive and systematic support policies for Koreans. However, Korea still has an outdated support system for compatriots. The society of overseas Koreans is rapidly changing centered on future generations, and there are 1 million foreign nationals residing in Korea. Stateless compatriots left in the blind spot are waiting for protection from their motherland. They are exposed to various crimes as well as difficulties in the global pandemic crisis. However, the establishment and execution of the overseas Korean policy is divided into several ministries, causing many problems. In addition, legal and institutional basis for the organization that establishes and enforces the overseas Korean policy is also poor and not efficient. The Overseas Koreans Foundation, established as a non-profit corporation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the 'Overseas Koreans Act', which was approved for the purpose of 'departure and entry of overseas Koreans and guarantee their legal status in Korea' do not perform properly and efficiently. All these difficulties are due to the lack of basic laws that are absolutely necessary to establish big goals and directions for the state policy dealing with overseas Koreans. Therefore, there is a high national demand for the creation of a new 'Basic Act for Overseas Koreans', which contains regulations regarding the establishment and operation of an independent, dedicated government body that would identify, confirm and support the basic rights of overseas Koreans, provide integrated services and take charge of systematic support policies. Accordingly, we urge the Korean society and the National Assembly to unite together, mobilize and participate in resolving these issues, and starting today we launch a one-million signature campaign for the enactment of the Framework Act on Overseas Koreans. February 16, 2022 Enactment of the Basic Act for Overseas Koreans Signed by 1 million Korean Citizens’ Solidarity
