Recent polling data reveals a staggering degree of political apathy among Koreans in their 20s and 30s, commonly referred to as the "2030 generation." Ahead of April's parliamentary elections, just over half of these young individuals expressed confidence in their intention to vote, according to the National Election Commission — with over a third identifying as independents, showing no support for either major party.
The future does not look promising either, with extremely marginal representation of youth in the upcoming legislature. Of the 300 lawmakers elected, a mere 6 percent were aged in their 30s; not a single victorious candidate was in their 20s. At 56, the average age of elected representatives showcased the gerontocracy taking hold.
Three principal factors fueled this exodus: First, a dearth of catalyzing issues relatable to young Koreans. Substantive debates over employment, affordable housing and the immense socioeconomic pressures facing Millennials and Generation Z were sorely lacking. Instead, discourse devolved into mudslinging over price levels, candidate scandals and controversies over the president’s decisions near the election — significant topics but utterly disconnected from youth priorities.
Second, fatigue with the nation's continued decline into partisan rancor and paralysis. Once a vibrant democratic success story, politics in Yeouido have regressed into a combination of acrimony compromised by personal scandals, corruption, abuses of power and ceaseless unproductive political maneuverings. Even in the Gallup survey conducted just before the election, which is typically a time when voters have made up their minds, 38 percent of the 2030 age group remained independent, showing how disenchanted the youth are with the current bipolarized politics.
Third, and perhaps most damaging, a growing sense that the government and legislature are impotent to improve their circumstances. The 2022 presidential race witnessed a series of provocative policies ostensibly targeting youth — divided starkly along gender lines as the conservatives courted young men with culture war baiting, such as promising to abolish the gender ministry, while progressives rallied young women through demonizing the PPP’s young male supporters and promises of empowerment.
Candidates also vowed to create youth employment opportunities and bridge the stark economic divide between the affluent capital region and other cities. Persuaded, more than 70 percent of the 2030 voters went to the polls to express their voices. Yet few of these high-profile pledges materialized into substantive policy action. Instead, the job market remains depressing, and more and more Gen Z are giving up their job seeking efforts. The entrenched gap between Seoul and the rest of the country only widened further.
Left unaddressed, the marginalization of Korea's rising generation poses profound perils for its long-term trajectory. As the electorate becomes ever older, policymaking inhibited by ageist groupthink could cement a vicious cycle of worsening youth apathy, with fewer substantive political voices advocating for their interests.
Already, economists and observers ring alarm bells over Korea's declining birthrate and unfavorable demographics. Without robust policies tangibly improving prospects for marriages, children and stable careers — tackling skyrocketing household debt, housing inaccessibility and crushing expenses — Korea faces an existential crisis sparked by its youth's pessimism over the future.
While populist tactics and culture war provocations may momentarily capture the electorate's attention by deepening divisions, they fail to foster meaningful policy discussions or maintain a lasting interest in politics among the youth, as evidenced by their waning engagement following the recent election. Instead, a bipartisan consensus prioritizing youth empowerment through investment in economic dynamism, social mobility and quality of life is essential.
More than optics are needed; young Koreans pragmatically demand substantive policies enhancing affordability, career trajectories, family formation incentives and upward mobility. Restoring faith that the government can uplift their fading prospects is paramount to tackling the democratic exodus. Policymakers of all stripes must engage Korea's next generation from a posture of humility — crafting an inclusive, unifying national vision.
Concurrently, youth voters themselves must amplify their voices and convey discontent or policy needs through all available means — direct voting, formation of youth advocacy blocs, social media campaigns or even public demonstrations. The notion that indifference itself constitutes a valid form of political expression is misguided and proven to be ineffectual. Korea's youth must proactively elevate their presence as a pivotal, mobilized constituency capable of swinging the nation's polarized partisan pendulum.
Ultimately, Korean democracy can ill-afford to further alienate its discontented youth. Only by demonstrating tangible commitments to revitalizing opportunity and a positive trajectory for the 2030 generation can Seoul honor its intergenerational compact and global standing.
Jinwan Park is an incoming Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University, China, and an East-Asia-focused researcher with works published in numerous publications including Nikkei Asia, CSIS, South China Morning Post, The National Interest and Asia Unbound by CFR.
Seoul's imperative: Reconnecting with its disenchanted youth
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26.05.2024
Recent polling data reveals a staggering degree of political apathy among Koreans in their 20s and 30s, commonly referred to as the "2030 generation." Ahead of April's parliamentary elections, just over half of these young individuals expressed confidence in their intention to vote, according to the National Election Commission — with over a third identifying as independents, showing no support for either major party.
The future does not look promising either, with extremely marginal representation of youth in the upcoming legislature. Of the 300 lawmakers elected, a mere 6 percent were aged in their 30s; not a single victorious candidate was in their 20s. At 56, the average age of elected representatives showcased the gerontocracy taking hold.
Three principal factors fueled this exodus: First, a dearth of catalyzing issues relatable to young Koreans. Substantive debates over employment, affordable housing and the immense socioeconomic pressures facing Millennials and Generation Z were sorely lacking. Instead, discourse devolved into mudslinging over price levels, candidate scandals and controversies over the president’s decisions near the election — significant topics but utterly disconnected from youth priorities.
Second, fatigue with the nation's continued decline into partisan rancor and paralysis. Once a vibrant democratic success story,........
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