Korean elections in the eyes of a foreigner

Korea.net Honorary Reporter Majid Mustaq learns how polling stations work in Korea on May 9. (Majid Mushtaq)

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Majid Mushtaq

An election is one of those things that activates each and every citizen of a country and spreads patriotism all around. Since childhood, I've always only seen elections in my own country, but this year was the first time I was experiencing an election in another country. Although I'm not a citizen of Korea and I don’t have the right to vote here, I was still very excited and concerned about the election results, just as any citizen would be. There were two main reasons behind this. 

First of all, since I call Korea my second home, apart from the culture, I have a huge interest in Korean politics and its economy. Secondly, these elections were perhaps the most important elections in Korean history. After having a hard time since last year, citizens were looking for new hope: a president that could unify a bruised country. Now, the elections are over, but I wanted to write an article about the amazing things that Koreans taught the world through these peaceful elections. 

Almost a month ago, before election day, I was seeing posters of all the candidates throughout the cities, which were all posted by the National Election Commission (NEC). It was quite a unique thing for me to see pictures of all the candidates together, as back in my country it's impossible to find pictures of the rival candidates together. 

Another interesting thing to me was the assignment of numbers to each candidate. There were 15 candidates contesting for the presidential seat, and each candidate was assigned a unique number. Back in Pakistan, India, Arab countries and most parts of the world, each candidate has a unique election sign, slogan or symbol, like in the case of Pakistan, each candidate has a sign like a lion, a football, a cricket bat or an arrow. 

One of the things that I will always appreciate about Korean elections is that the elections were so peaceful and calm. I never saw people protesting, organizing big rallies that disturbs the common man, or mocking other parties’ candidates. 

I was especially amazed to see that most people didn’t openly tell others as to which candidate they would support. I remember I asked my professor as to which candidate he would support, and his answer was, “It’s a vote, so it needs to be secret.” I got the same answer from most of my friends. That’s such a beautiful thing I learnt from Koreans through this elections.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet,” so having the right to vote is a power that people use to shape their country’s future. May 9 was election day, the day I had been waiting for, for so long, like the citizens of this beautiful country. 

Although it was raining heavily, the country saw a record voter turnout of 77 percent. Koreans, again, were telling the world that no matter what adversities it faced, one has to use their power of the vote to create a better future.

Korea.net Honorary Reporter Majid Mushtaq visits a polling station in Korea to learn more about presidential elections, on May 9. (Majid Mushtaq)

I wanted to see how the polling booths work in Korea, so I picked up my umbrella and headed over to the nearest polling station. 

When I arrived, the staff was kind of amazed to see a visibly non-Korean person at their polling station. Thinking that I might be a naturalized Korean citizen or something, one of them asked if I had Korean nationality. I said no with a little smile and told them that I was a student here who came to see how polling works in Korea.

The moment they heard that, they were all glad and started to show me around and explaining each and every step of how to vote. They showed me the stamp that Koreans mark on their hands after casting a vote. I was so excited, I asked if I could have a stamp on my own hand. I couldn’t control my happiness when they said yes! Counting my love for Korea, I wanted to mark those stamps on my whole arm and face! However, that would look awkward, so I put one stamp on my hand and one on one of my business cards. 

After people cast their ballot, they get a stamp on their hand to show they voted. (Majid Mushtaq)

After getting all the information I could, I was about to say goodbye to them when one of them gave me some small gifts and some candy. To be honest, I've been to polling stations a few times in my life, but those moments at a polling station in Korea were some moments that I can never forget.

Apart from showing the world how democracy is done, Koreans took the election coverage to another level, too. Election night is a time when every citizen is nervous, biting their nails while waiting for the results, but that’s not the case in Korea. Korean news channels invented new ways of showing poling results, using CGI graphics depicting presidential candidates doing all manner of fundamentally goofy things. 

No matter if you're a fan of "Game of Thrones" or not, or whether or not you like to play Pokemon Go, you were able to see your candidates on TV animated to look like your favorite characters from those TV shows or video games. 

Election results were announced late at night, and the people’s favorite, Moon Jae-in, won the election with 41.1 percent of the votes. It was a landslide victory and the celebrations began across the country. During his first address, President Moon said that he would be a “president for everyone” and that he would serve the entire country, even if some people hadn’t voted for him. 

President Moon Jae-in waves to his supporters on May 9 after he was formally declared the winner of the presidential election. (Yonhap News)

Although the elections are now over, Koreans have truly showed the world how democracy is done, and they have set Korea as a role model for the world. There is much, much to learn from these elections for developing countries and developed countries alike. I'm happy I was able to witness first-hand and that I was part of these remarkable elections. I will take back the lessons I learnt here and the beautiful memories with me when I go back to my home country. 

Korea really is my second home, and to thank its people and to show how much I love this country and its people, we've made a small video.

You can watch it here:

wisdom117@korea.kr

The presidential election in the eyes of a naturalized Korean

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Lalien Guillen Park

Photos = Lalien Guillen Park and Yonhap News

Being part of a multi-cultural family in Korea, I have gained a lot of benefits and privileges. Among them, is obtaining a new citizenship. On Dec. 21, 2015, I became a naturalized Korean citizen. From that day onward, I obtained the equal rights to which a natural born Korean would be entitled. If you ask me how I felt after getting my citizenship, it was incredible, exciting and a humbling experience.

It was incredible because the Philippine government permits dual citizenship. Therefore, I had nothing to lose by being naturalized as a Korean citizen. It was exciting for the fact that I could now get my own Korean identification card (주민등록증) and bid goodbye to my Alien Registration Card. In addition, becoming a Korean passport-holder means that I can travel to 172 countries visa-free, or else be granted a visa upon arrival. 

  

It was a humbling experience because, with my poor Korean language skills, I felt that I was -- and still am -- undeservedly lucky to be a citizen of a country that gives me a lot of wonderful things and experiences for which I will always be grateful.

However, beyond all the perks, such as having a Korean identification card or holding a Korean passport, the one thing that I was most anxious about was exercising my right to vote in an election. 

The first ever Korean election in which I participated was the legislative elections held on April 13, 2016. I remembered being so excited despite the heavy rain that day. At that time, I thought that it was my finest moment as a true Korean citizen. I was able to do my duty as a citizen and choose the lawmakers and the people’s representatives in the government. I felt really good and proud after voting.

However, this presidential election of 2017 was even more special. I got really excited upon receiving my information package related to the election. 

Inside the parcel were booklets and brochures about the presidential candidates, with information about their educational backgrounds and political achievements. 

Two days later, another parcel arrived. 

This one contained information about voting, such as the date, the location and my voter's registration number.

For the previous few months, I had been actively interested in Korean politics, more so than I was before. I followed the candidates in the news and even watched some of their debates. The debates were really important because their answers reflected how they might handle important issues concerning the entire country.

I felt that this time around, I was more prepared and much wiser when exercising my right to vote. Election day of May 9 finally came and -- what a funny coincidence -- the clouds were gray and it was rainy again. 

Nonetheless, the rain didn’t stop people from coming out to vote, which was a really good sign that people were taking this election seriously.

I was glad to see that some parents brought their children along with them. I believe that as early as possible, children should develop an awareness of how important it is to vote. After all, they are the country’s future. 

I can’t help but smile to see the sign that says, “You who vote are beautiful.” All citizens must be encouraged to exercise their right to vote. I think that the election committee did a really good job in this election, despite the short period of time it had to make the election possible.

After writing down our names in the registration book, we were given our ballots. We then proceeded to the polling booths. Inside the booth, there was an ink pen and a practice sheet. I practiced stamping my selection a couple of times on the practice sheet before stamping the ink pen on my ballot. After that, I made sure that the ink was fully dry before folding my ballot in half and inserting it in the ballot box. Just like that, voting was done.

I drew a breath and hoped for the best. I hoped that my single vote would help my candidate win, and that they could then lead Korea to a much better future.

The election was scheduled to be finished at 8 p.m. Once again, my husband and I were hooked on TV, watching the news and rooting for our presidential candidate.

It was a landslide victory! I wasn’t surprised at all. The newly elected President Moon Jae-in won the hearts of the majority of the people with his sincerity and sense of justice. He has been consistent about his love for the country ever since he was a student activist. He then became a human rights attorney later on, and then a nationally known representative in the National Assembly. Now, he is the new president of Korea.

I'm not expecting him to be a perfect president. Nobody has been, nobody is, and nobody will be. However, I am hoping and praying that his good character will always prevail and that he will make the right and best decisions as the head of our country.

My interest in politics doesn't end at this election. I know that this is only the beginning. Now, I have five more years to watch over and to be involved in President Moon Jae-in’s governance, hoping that I voted wisely, hoping that I also made the right decision to vote for this upright man.

I guess I can say that there's not much difference, if there’s any difference at all, as to how the election looked in my eyes and in the eyes of a native-born Korean. After all, we all live in the same country and face the same social issues. However, as a naturalized Korean, I think I feel more honored to be given this right to vote and to be part of the solution. I will try my best to be a better Korean citizen so that I can be deserving of having this privilege of being able to cast a vote that can make a change for the entire nation. 

wisdom117@korea.kr