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
  • World Expo 2030
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
  • World Expo 2030
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

    14 injured as escalator reverses at Sunae Station in Bundang

  • 3

    Gov't to launch intensive crackdown against foreigners committing drug crimes

  • 5

    Korea falls to Italy in FIFA U-20 World Cup semifinals

  • 7

    Netflix's new original 'Bloodhounds' to deliver cathartic action

  • 9

    INTERVIEWSpaceX's Starlink in Kyiv is wake-up call for Seoul

  • 11

    'Leaving Las Vegas' director Mike Figgis puts Korea in spotlight in new film

  • 13

    Billy Graham Seoul Crusade celebrates 50th anniversary

  • 15

    Home gardening boom inspires plant adoption, specialized care services for leafy companions

  • 17

    Yoon's labor reform drive sputters as umbrella union exits talks

  • 19

    Tom Cruise to visit Seoul on June 29 to promote 'Mission: Impossible 7'

  • 2

    RM to attend Seoul festival to mark BTS' 10th anniv.

  • 4

    Dog meat traders condemn first lady, animal rights groups' push for ban

  • 6

    Ad or song?: Coca-Cola Zero ad featuring NewJeans becomes marketing blueprint

  • 8

    Robot to conduct orchestra for 1st time in Korea

  • 10

    PHOTOSSubway escalator accident

  • 12

    Dollar remittance, foreign exchange rules to be eased

  • 14

    NATO chief to chair emergency Ukraine meeting over dam

  • 16

    Canada wildfires shroud New York in apocalyptic haze

  • 18

    Korean businesses seek tougher punishments for industrial espionage

  • 20

    White Cube to open space in Seoul

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
Sat, June 10, 2023 | 05:43
Politics
1 out of 3 young people undecided about presidential candidates
Posted : 2021-11-21 15:38
Updated : 2021-11-22 15:00
Jung Da-min
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link

Both ruling, opposition candidates fail to get support from young generation

By Jung Da-min

With less than four months left ahead of the next presidential election in March, young voters in their 20s and 30s have risen as swing voters who could play a decisive role in selecting the winner.

In recent opinion polls, many in this age group have said they support neither of the candidates of the country's two major parties ― Yoon Seok-youl of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).

According to a survey of 1,004 adults conducted together by four local pollsters ― Embrain Public, Kstat Research, Korea Research International and Hankook Research ― from Nov. 15 to 17, support for both Yoon and Lee were notably lower among the younger voters than among those in other age groups.

Among those surveyed, 38 percent of people aged between 18 and 29 supported either Lee or Yoon; while among those in their 30s, 58 percent supported one of the two candidates. But 37 percent of the youngest age group and 27 percent of people in their 30s either said they have no favored candidate or didn't answer.

The percentages of the two groups disapproving of any of the current candidates or not answering were much higher than those in older age groups ― 14 percent for those in their 40s, 9 percent for those in their 50s, 8 percent for people in their 60s and 11 percent for those aged 70 and over.

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung takes a photo with his supporters while watching a baseball match with his wife Kim Hye-kyung, second from left, at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul's Guro District, Thursday. Joint Press Corps

Political watchers say the lower support rates of the candidates from the two major parties among voters in their 20s and 30s show the young generation's disappointment with established politicians and their so-called "vested rights," especially as both Lee and Yoon are involved in corruption scandals.

For Lee, he is involved in a highly lucrative land development speculation scandal in which he allegedly gave preferential treatment to a private firm, Hawcheon Daeyu, which headed the corruption-ridden project in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, when he was mayor of the city. Yoon is accused of abusing his power when serving as prosecutor general by ordering his aides to lodge defamation accusations against ruling bloc figures.

Ex-interim party leader named to lead presidential election campaign committee for Yoon
Ex-interim party leader named to lead presidential election campaign committee for Yoon
2021-11-21 16:36  |  Politics

Main opposition People Power Party's presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl attends a pet fair held at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Joint Press Corps

Yoon Byung-soo, 26, a college student in Seoul, said neither Lee nor Yoon represent the interests of young voters.

"From my observation [from the party primaries] and based on what I have heard from friends in my age group, many male voters in their 20s and 30s supported Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, who ranked second after Yoon in the PPP primary. In the DPK primary, many female voters in their 20s and 30s supported former DPK Chairman Lee Nak-yon, but he also came second after Lee Jae-myung. So, the opinions of both young male and female voters were not successfully reflected in the parties' selection of their presidential candidates," he said.

"Indeed, my male friends in their 20s and 30s say they have no one to support or vote for in the presidential race. … For my female friends, they said they would vote for Rep. Sim Sang-jeung of the minor opposition progressive Justice Party, as she represents the political interests of women while Yoon and Lee are failing to do so."

Rep. Sim Sang-jeung the presidential candidate of the minor opposition progressive Justice Party, speaks during a talk show with young women in their 20s at Hyundai U-Plex Department Store in Seoul's Seodaemun District, Thursday. Sim and other participants talked about various factors that make young women's lives difficult. Joint Press Corps

Lee Jee-su, 27, a graduate student in Daejeon, said she dislikes both Yoon and Lee as they both stand at extreme ends. "Lee's welfare policies for the low-income bracket seem to be a populist move, while he himself is involved in a corruption scandal. Lee's strong push for his policies also seem to be dangerous as he could take the wrong path while not listening to advice from people around him. For Yoon, his leadership style seem to be based on elitism," she said. Lee said she has not yet decided whom to vote for.

Lee Yae-ji, 29, an office worker in Seoul, said she wants to vote for a candidate who pursues the public interest, but both Lee and Yoon seem to be pursuing their own interests.

Main opposition People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl, second from right, and Rep. Ha Tae-keung, left, pose for a photo with young supporters while visiting Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Soeul's Mapo District, Nov. 3. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

Kim, 29, a business man, said he would vote for Yoon. "It is not that I support Yoon's political vision, but as there is no one I really want to support in this presidential race, I at least want to contribute to a change in leadership," he said.

Kang Woo-young, 36, an office worker in Seoul, said he is considering voting for Sim of the Justice Party as her election promises include the introduction of a four-day workweek system. "I don't support Yoon or Lee, so I think I should vote for Sim to realize my political interests as an office worker. But I might change my mind and vote for Lee so as not to cast a wasted vote when the competition takes place mainly between Lee and Yoon. Yoon seems to be unprepared to become president considering his lack of political experience, and seeing his inappropriate remarks and behavior in media reports. Compared to Yoon, Lee is relatively a better candidate considering his political experience."

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung speaks during a meeting with young climate activists held at the youth cultural space Shinchon Parang Kore in Seoul's Seodaemun District, Nov. 16. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

Against this backdrop, both Yoon and Lee have increased activities and meetings which they believe will appeal to the younger generation.

Since early this month, Lee has met young startup owners, young couples, environmental activists and many other people in their 20s and 30s. He also delivered promises such as developing the e-sports industry and supporting young people's job interview preparations.

Yoon has promised to change the college admissions system to one with fairer competition, and lower the age limit for candidates to run in a presidential election, which is presently 40 years old.




Emaildamin.jung@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Rising minimum wage burdens small biz owners: survey Rising minimum wage burdens small biz owners: survey
2IPO market regains vigor on bullish KOSPI IPO market regains vigor on bullish KOSPI
3Resurging household loans pose challenge for BOK's rate policy Resurging household loans pose challenge for BOK's rate policy
4SPC bolsters PR activities in US SPC bolsters PR activities in US
5OpenAI explores investment opportunities in Korean startups: Sam AltmanOpenAI explores investment opportunities in Korean startups: Sam Altman
6China reaches out to Korean Assembly to counterweigh Yoon's bet on US China reaches out to Korean Assembly to counterweigh Yoon's bet on US
7Japanese business leaders pledge to support Busan's Expo bidJapanese business leaders pledge to support Busan's Expo bid
8S. Korea may see rise in NK defectors as Pyongyang mulls reopening borders S. Korea may see rise in NK defectors as Pyongyang mulls reopening borders
9Hyundai Motor partners with Spider-Man animation to envision future mobility Hyundai Motor partners with Spider-Man animation to envision future mobility
10Yoon's $40,000 GNI by 2027 goal seems unlikely prospectYoon's $40,000 GNI by 2027 goal seems unlikely prospect
Top 5 Entertainment News
1China's hallyu restrictions likely to continue unless Seoul-Beijing ties improve China's hallyu restrictions likely to continue unless Seoul-Beijing ties improve
2[INTERVIEW] CIX talks about team chemistry, youth theme INTERVIEWCIX talks about team chemistry, youth theme
3Gang Dong-won, Park Jeong-min team up for Joseon-era thriller 'War and Revolt' Gang Dong-won, Park Jeong-min team up for Joseon-era thriller 'War and Revolt'
4Netflix's new original 'Bloodhounds' to deliver cathartic actionNetflix's new original 'Bloodhounds' to deliver cathartic action
5'Leaving Las Vegas' director Mike Figgis puts Korea in spotlight in new film 'Leaving Las Vegas' director Mike Figgis puts Korea in spotlight in new film
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • 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

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