By Choi Ha-young
Political parties are using various programs to reach out to young voters in preparation for the local elections slated for June next year.
This is also to attract young political hopefuls for a smooth generational change in their respective parties in the long-term.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which has emerged as the most popular party largely thanks to strong popular support for President Moon Jae-in, is seeking to consolidate its position through more young political hopefuls. Opposition parties ― Liberty Korea Party (LKP), People's Party, Bareun Party and Justice Party ― are attempting to break through their sluggish presences by recruiting young people.
By launching an education program, the minor conservative Bareun Party signaled its potential to raise the party's awareness among the young generation. For the last month, the party proactively invited those under 39 pursuing political careers.
For the six-month long program opening on Sep. 5, 330 people applied ― way more than its capacity of 50 people, compared to the ruling party's 271 applicants.
Rep. Yoo Seong-min, the party's former presidential candidate, and other reformist experts and opinion leaders will talk about the history of Korean politics, economic justice as well as diplomacy and security, based on the party's ideology ― clean and warm conservatism.
"There were two 15-year-old applicants seeking professional education about politics to achieve their dream of becoming politicians," the Bareun Party said in a statement, Sunday. "A North Korean defector applicant said he wishes to realize his career through the platform of the Bareun Party," the statement added.
The ruling DPK's course features practical programs on how to get elected in the upcoming election. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, presidential chief policy adviser Jang Ha-sung and Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung will share their experiences ― speech and writing skills as a politician, local government management, and the Moon Jae-in administration's policy goals. The program kicks off Wednesday.
"More applicants including local activists, experts and political hopefuls flocked to the program beyond our expectations," party spokeswoman Kim Hyun said. "We think that young people are finding hope in politics following Moon's inauguration as more young people are interested in running for the regional election."
However, the program's considerable entry fee, nine million won ($7900), may be a stumbling block for young students to take part in the program. "The fee is to ensure the participants' commitment and maintain the program's quality," Kim added.
The LKP's program focuses more on the oldest conservative party's ideology. In a press conference last week, the party's reform panel chief Lew Seok-choon revealed a scheme to educate its election candidates. "To establish our conservative values, we will make the education program mandatory for all nominees who will challenge in the regional election," Lew said.
The course includes ― The foundation of the Republic of Korea; Understanding of liberal democracy; North Korean totalitarianism; Unification to flourish as a nation. Chairman Hong Joon-pyo is scheduled to give a lecture about neo-conservatism.
The liberal People's Party's initiative is operating a school called "polyceum" which combines "poly" that symbolizes the multiparty system and "lyceum."
"Our program features the merits of the multiparty system in politics here, which is the contribution of the People's Party," the vice president of the program Won Seong-mook said. "Beginning Sep. 4, we will launch a tailored program for those who will be candidates in the regional election, to share strategies that can actually take effect in actual campaigns."
The Justice Party, the sole party that elected a deputy chief representing young members, is also designing a program for the young generation to provide firsthand experience of the legislation process.
Most of the parties highlight that applicants can gain some benefits when applying for job opportunities. To guarantee the young people's sustainable interests in politics, parties have to prepare follow-up steps, said Lee Dong-hak, a 36-year-old politician of the DPK.
"For example, the applicants need to be able to engage in the law-making process, rather than just learning about it. Parties should create platforms to collect young people's ideas and create committees to realize their proposals on national security, welfare, education and self-governance," Lee said.
"In the long term, the rookies should make their voices heard in the organization standing on equal footing with lawmakers," he noted.
Political parties are using various programs to reach out to young voters in preparation for the local elections slated for June next year.
This is also to attract young political hopefuls for a smooth generational change in their respective parties in the long-term.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which has emerged as the most popular party largely thanks to strong popular support for President Moon Jae-in, is seeking to consolidate its position through more young political hopefuls. Opposition parties ― Liberty Korea Party (LKP), People's Party, Bareun Party and Justice Party ― are attempting to break through their sluggish presences by recruiting young people.
By launching an education program, the minor conservative Bareun Party signaled its potential to raise the party's awareness among the young generation. For the last month, the party proactively invited those under 39 pursuing political careers.
For the six-month long program opening on Sep. 5, 330 people applied ― way more than its capacity of 50 people, compared to the ruling party's 271 applicants.
Rep. Yoo Seong-min, the party's former presidential candidate, and other reformist experts and opinion leaders will talk about the history of Korean politics, economic justice as well as diplomacy and security, based on the party's ideology ― clean and warm conservatism.
"There were two 15-year-old applicants seeking professional education about politics to achieve their dream of becoming politicians," the Bareun Party said in a statement, Sunday. "A North Korean defector applicant said he wishes to realize his career through the platform of the Bareun Party," the statement added.
The ruling DPK's course features practical programs on how to get elected in the upcoming election. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, presidential chief policy adviser Jang Ha-sung and Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung will share their experiences ― speech and writing skills as a politician, local government management, and the Moon Jae-in administration's policy goals. The program kicks off Wednesday.
"More applicants including local activists, experts and political hopefuls flocked to the program beyond our expectations," party spokeswoman Kim Hyun said. "We think that young people are finding hope in politics following Moon's inauguration as more young people are interested in running for the regional election."
However, the program's considerable entry fee, nine million won ($7900), may be a stumbling block for young students to take part in the program. "The fee is to ensure the participants' commitment and maintain the program's quality," Kim added.
The LKP's program focuses more on the oldest conservative party's ideology. In a press conference last week, the party's reform panel chief Lew Seok-choon revealed a scheme to educate its election candidates. "To establish our conservative values, we will make the education program mandatory for all nominees who will challenge in the regional election," Lew said.
The course includes ― The foundation of the Republic of Korea; Understanding of liberal democracy; North Korean totalitarianism; Unification to flourish as a nation. Chairman Hong Joon-pyo is scheduled to give a lecture about neo-conservatism.
The liberal People's Party's initiative is operating a school called "polyceum" which combines "poly" that symbolizes the multiparty system and "lyceum."
"Our program features the merits of the multiparty system in politics here, which is the contribution of the People's Party," the vice president of the program Won Seong-mook said. "Beginning Sep. 4, we will launch a tailored program for those who will be candidates in the regional election, to share strategies that can actually take effect in actual campaigns."
The Justice Party, the sole party that elected a deputy chief representing young members, is also designing a program for the young generation to provide firsthand experience of the legislation process.
Most of the parties highlight that applicants can gain some benefits when applying for job opportunities. To guarantee the young people's sustainable interests in politics, parties have to prepare follow-up steps, said Lee Dong-hak, a 36-year-old politician of the DPK.
"For example, the applicants need to be able to engage in the law-making process, rather than just learning about it. Parties should create platforms to collect young people's ideas and create committees to realize their proposals on national security, welfare, education and self-governance," Lee said.
"In the long term, the rookies should make their voices heard in the organization standing on equal footing with lawmakers," he noted.
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