ED Reasons to vote

Every eligible Korean should vote to rebuild the country

Ahead of the May 9 presidential election, two days of early voting began Thursday at 3,500 polling stations. This is the first time for early voting to be introduced in a presidential election. By 11:00 a.m. Thursday, more than 1.5 million people had cast their ballots. The big turnout demonstrates the people’s desire to close the chapter on incompetent, corrupt politics once and for all and start afresh with a new leader.

The voters’ enthusiasm for early voting should be transferred to actual voting day. Since this falls at the end of a long holiday, it is easy to think about forgoing it for leisure. Many people also may think that because this election is rather predictable, their votes won’t be able to change the outcome. Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea has a stable lead in polls, but every voter should cast their ballot, considering the grave tasks lying ahead for their country.

During the 2012 presidential election, surveys showed that voters in their 20s and 30s were the least interested in voting. But regardless of age, there are three very good reasons for every eligible person to vote.

First, we need a leader who can turn around a long economic slump and put the nation on the path of recovery. Second, we need a leader who can restore the people’s confidence in our diplomacy and national security. Third, the Park Geun-hye administration is in the past, but it needs to be judged by voters for the way it took the nation backwards in so many ways.

Special circumstances ahead of this election have made it hard for voters to get to know the candidates properly. The May 9 election was confirmed only after the disgraced leader was impeached by the National Assembly and removed from office by the March 10 Constitutional Court ruling. Due to the short campaign period, many voters have had to rely on a series of TV debates, but they only disappointed voters because they were mostly about mudslinging, rather than mature discussions on policies. Even during the last debate on social issues earlier this week, the candidates were preoccupied with making personal attacks against each other.

With just four days left until the election, it is getting more difficult for voters to make a sound decision because of the overflow of fake news and malicious allegations. SBS triggered controversy by reporting that the salvage operation of the ferry Sewol was delayed for political purposes to favor Moon, who reportedly promised to expand the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. With the election so close, there should be no more attempts from government, media or any other sector to manipulate the election.

During the remainder of the election period, the candidates should stop smear campaigns and put all of their energy toward convincing the public with their policies.