Koreans living overseas urge gov't to improve public services

Koreans living overseas urged the Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) to improve citizen services, raising issues mainly about the expansion of the identity verification system using foreign numbers, support for Korean cultural facilities and the overseas issuance of international driver’s licences.

In an online forum held by the OKA marking the third anniversary of the launch of the agency, overseas Koreans, mainly the heads of overseas Korean associations, shared their difficulties and suggestions on how to improve Korean government services.

Several participants urged the government to support cultural facilities in their regions so that Korea can expand its influence in other countries. “We urgently need a Korean Cultural Center established in East Timor … KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) has funded other large-scale projects here, such as a $10 million football stadium and various small business factories.

However, these do not seem to effectively enhance Korea’s national image.

When people here think of football, they think of Portugal, not Korea.

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