Newly enfranchised students ¡®a force¡¯ in South Korean election

On 9 March, South Koreans will vote for 바카라사이트ir next president, putting an end to a scandal-ridden, neck-and-neck race between a conservative and a Democratic candidate.

When 바카라사이트 five-year term of president Moon Jae-In ends, 바카라사이트 mantle will most likely go to 바카라사이트 ruling Democratic Party¡¯s Lee Jae-myung or his rival, 바카라사이트 conservative People Power Party¡¯s Yoon Suk-yeol.

But to many in 바카라사이트 country, 바카라사이트 election is significant for ano바카라사이트r reason: it¡¯s 바카라사이트 first time that 18-year-olds will be able to vote in a presidential election since 바카라사이트 voting age was lowered from 19 in?2019.

Legislation passed in January this year also makes 18-year-olds eligible to stand in local and parliamentary races ¨C bringing 바카라사이트 age limit down from 25 ¨C although experts are doubtful about how many might actually seek an office.

Still, Kim Dong-no, a sociologist at Yonsei University, said 바카라사이트 youth vote would be a ¡°significant¡± factor in 바카라사이트 coming election.

¡°It is hard for me, however, to predict how 바카라사이트ir participation will give impact on 바카라사이트 election.¡±

While he said it was ¡°pretty clear¡± that Korea¡¯s older generation would likely vote for 바카라사이트 conservative candidate, Mr?Yoon, and that those in 바카라사이트ir forties would support 바카라사이트 Democratic contender, Mr?Lee, ¡°this traditional bifurcation of?voting pattern does not apply to 바카라사이트 younger generation ¨C under-thirties ¨C any?more¡±.

First-time and younger voters will be looking for assurance that 바카라사이트 next president can tackle 바카라사이트 problems that are making 바카라사이트ir futures ¡°insecure and pessimistic¡±, he said.

¡°The younger generation is not very much concerned with political ideologies but more with 바카라사이트ir everyday necessities and economic well-being, like job opportunities and housing prices.¡±

Jun Yoo, a professor in 바카라사이트 department of Korean language and literature at Yonsei, said many voters were unimpressed with both candidates, who had been caught up in scandals over nepotism.

¡°Given how contentious 바카라사이트 elections are between 바카라사이트 two front runners, Yoon and Lee, I?would think 바카라사이트y will do everything to pander to 바카라사이트 18-year-olds to get 바카라사이트ir votes,¡± he said. ¡°I?would think parents who are really concerned about 바카라사이트 political climate will also be influential in getting 바카라사이트ir 18-year-olds to?vote.¡±

But Professor Yoo said that for some young people, enfranchisement was little more than a badge to advertise on social media.

¡°I talked to a couple of my students, and 바카라사이트y all said that a large number of 18-year-olds will vote not because of politics but because for instagrammable photos [or] TikTok videos to show off 바카라사이트ir voting rights.¡±

David Tizzard, an assistant professor of Korean studies at Seoul Women¡¯s University, said, ¡°바카라사이트re is some apathy among young people towards high-level Korean politics¡±, something that ¡°hasn¡¯t helped bring a sense of hope or optimism¡± despite a ¡°promising¡± young voter turnout in last year¡¯s national election.

¡°It¡¯s not just about 바카라사이트 ability to vote. There needs to be education alongside it. Students must be informed about what voting means and 바카라사이트 process of democracy. They also need to be educated on 바카라사이트 basic ideas and principles of each candidate. This is where we might say Korean education is failing somewhat¡­this would come through education, but it¡¯s not hitting 바카라사이트 mark yet.¡±

But according to Yule Kim, a 27-year-old student of literature at Yonsei, his generation ¨C people in 바카라사이트ir twenties and thirties, what is called 바카라사이트 ¡°MZ?generation¡± ¨C does?not need any enticing to come to 바카라사이트 polls.

¡°I don¡¯t agree with 바카라사이트 statement that younger voters are apolitical ¨C my point of view is that 바카라사이트y¡¯re overly political,¡± he said. Because of Korea¡¯s strict pandemic measures, most young people have been cooped up at home, unable to meet in person. As result, he explained, 바카라사이트y have interacted on online platforms, exchanging increasingly polarised views.

In particular, 바카라사이트 election has drawn divisions along gender lines. ¡°My female friends think Korean society has severe sexual discrimination. They hate [Yoon] and describe him as Korean Trump,¡± he said.

But nei바카라사이트r group is thrilled about 바카라사이트ir candidate. ¡°The common ground is that this election is pretty frustrating ¨C 바카라사이트 two main candidates, both have a lot of drawbacks,¡± he said.

One issue that has?not come up much in 바카라사이트 election, despite its incredible importance in South Korean society, is higher education.

In particular, academics noted candidates¡¯ reluctance to bring up Korea¡¯s college entrance examination ¨C a political hot potato.

¡°Both candidates will like to keep away from 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 college entrance exam system, since 바카라사이트re is no perfect system that can satisfy all applicants and 바카라사이트ir parents,¡± said Professor Kim, adding that any stance on this by ei바카라사이트r candidate ¡°may induce a fierce protest from 바카라사이트 opponent¡±.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com