The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korean Lunar New Year vs. Chinese Lunar New Year

  • 3

    Garbage collector mistakes sex doll for corpse

  • 5

    Cute canine film 'My Heart Puppy' reunites Yoo Yeon-seok, Cha Tae-hyun

  • 7

    Hybe acquires 56.1 percent stake in AI sound startup Supertone

  • 9

    Korea ranks 31st in international corruption perception index in 2022

  • 11

    US bill introduced to honor Korean War hero

  • 13

    South Korea, US to expand size and content of joint military drills

  • 15

    Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone

  • 17

    Cyber University of Korea offers online Korean language programs for foreigners

  • 19

    Holy Moly concert series brings 4 punk bands to Haebangchon

  • 2

    INTERVIEWProduction company AStory expects great success with 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' franchise

  • 4

    TWICE becomes first K-pop group to win Billboard Women in Music award

  • 6

    Free subway rides for elderly emerge as headache for Seoul mayor

  • 8

    Netflix announces password sharing crackdown in Korea

  • 10

    Korea seeks measures to better protect foreign workers

  • 12

    Retailers return to Myeong-dong as more foreign tourists visit

  • 14

    Samsung refuses to cut chip output despite plunging profits

  • 16

    Popular travel YouTuber recalls painful memories of being bullied at school

  • 18

    4 South Korean activists arrested for executing orders from Pyongyang

  • 20

    Is non-consensual sex not rape?

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, February 2, 2023 | 21:19
Young Voters Shift to Center-Right
Posted : 2007-12-21 18:19
Updated : 2007-12-21 18:19
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

The 2007 presidential election betrayed the tradition that young voters are in more favor of progressive ideas than conservative ones, as they valued bread-and-butter issues more this time than ideological and ethical standards, political experts said.

In the Dec. 19 ballot, over 40 percent of those in their 20s and 30s funneled their votes to businessman-turned-politician Lee Myung-bak, who campaigned on his economic credentials, helping him win a landslide victory over liberal-minded Chung Dong-young whose pledges focused on North Korean affairs, ideology and ethical issues.

Young Voters Become Pragmatic

According to final figures released by the National Election Commission, Lee won 42.5 percent of support from those in their 20s, while Chung had 20.7 percent from the same bracket.

Lee won 40.4 percent of support from 30-something voters compared to Chung with 28.3 percent.

The results marked a stark contrast to those of the 2002 election when liberal candidate Roh Moo-hyun won some 60 percent of support from those in their 20s and 30s against Lee Hoi-chang who earned some 30 percent from the brackets.

Kim Ho-ki, professor of sociology at Yonsei University in Seoul, said the liberal camp failed to read the trends among young people.

``Most of those in their 20s and 30s now witnessed the financial crisis 10 years ago when they were children,'' Kim said in a televised debate Thursday. ``Unfortunately, they themselves are experiencing similar economic difficulties now, such as unemployment and housing issues. That means they cannot help voting for the candidate who can satisfy their needs of livelihood.''

Judgement on Roh government

Professor Kim Hyung-joon of Myungji University in Seoul said Lee Myung-bak's landslide victory was largely attributable to the South Korean public's frustration of incompetent Roh Moo-hyun government and ruling forces, which had been indulged in ideological and political disputes.

``The outcome of the election reflected the public's punishment on the Roh government,'' Kim said. ``Most people, even those who supported Roh in 2002, were disappointed by Roh's failed management of state affairs.''

Professor Kang Won-taek of Soongsil University in Seoul said, ``There are many people voting for Lee Myung-bak just because they don't like Roh. People felt the need for change because the Roh government failed to come up with solutions on economic problems."

Conservative Prevails

Arguably, conservatives dominated this election. Though Lee Myung-bak is often considered a reform-minded politician, most of his policies are based on a conservative platform.

In Wednesday polls, Lee won 48.7 percent of the votes, beating out Chung Dong-young with 26.1 percent. It was the biggest margin of victory in the 20-year history of democratic elections in South Korea
Right-wing candidate Lee Hoi-chang had 15. 1 percent. That means more than 63 percent of voters supported conservative candidates.

``People appeared to desperately feel the need for change, being tired of 10 years of liberal rule. And that kind of sentiment was reflected in the election,'' said Professor Kim Min-jeon of Kyunghee University in Seoul.

Regionalism Lingers

Lee Myung-bak won in 13 out of 16 cities and provinces in the country. But he only received single-digit support in southwest regions, which experts call a sign of lingering regionalism.

The southwestern Jeolla provinces and Gwangju have long been considered the home turf of liberal politicians led by former President Kim Dae-jung.

Votes Shift in Seoul

Traditionally, voters in the Seoul area tend to split between conservative and liberal forces, and liberal votes often dominated the elections. But not this time around.

More than half of Seoul and Gyeonggi voters supported Lee. He won 53.2 percent in Seoul and 51.8 percent in Gyeonggi Province. In west Incheon, Lee won 49.4 percent of the votes.

Experts said Lee's visible achievements during his service as Seoul mayor including the restoration of the Cheonggye stream and reform of bus services in Seoul were crucial for the shift.

Lowest Voter Turnout

The voter turnout recorded a record-low of 63.1 percent. The rate is far below the 70.8 percent turnout of the 2002 election and the 80.7 percent of the 1997 election.

Poll experts attributed the lowest-ever turnout to the early daunting lead of the President-elect and growing public apathy toward politics and negative campaigns during the presidential race.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr
 
Top 10 Stories
1Garbage collector mistakes sex doll for corpse Garbage collector mistakes sex doll for corpse
2Free subway rides for elderly emerge as headache for Seoul mayor Free subway rides for elderly emerge as headache for Seoul mayor
3Korea seeks measures to better protect foreign workers Korea seeks measures to better protect foreign workers
4Retailers return to Myeong-dong as more foreign tourists visit Retailers return to Myeong-dong as more foreign tourists visit
5Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone
64 South Korean activists arrested for executing orders from Pyongyang 4 South Korean activists arrested for executing orders from Pyongyang
7Is non-consensual sex not rape? Is non-consensual sex not rape?
8President pledges support for Korean chipmakers to overcome crisis President pledges support for Korean chipmakers to overcome crisis
9Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers
10Income gap widening among workers Income gap widening among workers
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Production company AStory expects great success with 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' franchise INTERVIEWProduction company AStory expects great success with 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' franchise
2TWICE becomes first K-pop group to win Billboard Women in Music award TWICE becomes first K-pop group to win Billboard Women in Music award
3Cute canine film 'My Heart Puppy' reunites Yoo Yeon-seok, Cha Tae-hyun Cute canine film 'My Heart Puppy' reunites Yoo Yeon-seok, Cha Tae-hyun
4AmorePacific Museum of Art brings Joseon-era folding screens to center stage AmorePacific Museum of Art brings Joseon-era folding screens to center stage
5$120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing $120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group