South Korea took a step toward stripping permanent residents of their voting rights this week, citing “significant” public concern over outside political influence.

People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, a close ally of President Yoon Suk-yeol, and 17 other party members proposed the Partial Amendment to the Public Office Election Bill, which aims to make it more difficult for long-term Chinese nationals to vote in South Korean local elections.