Korean nationals residing in the U.S. and Japan are seeking to file a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court in a bid to secure their rights to vote.

The Federation of Korean Associations based in Pennsylvania claims the current law denying overseas Koreans the right to vote in elections in South Korea is unconstitutional.

The federation will joins hands with its Japanese counterpart to press their case.

An attorney representing the overseas Koreans says it's unfair that Korean residents in the U.S., including the Korean Ambassador, are barred from voting in Korean elections merely because they are living overseas when they pay taxes, fulfill military service and other basic responsibilities as Korean citizens.