Too busy for politics? South Korea’s young voters on what motivates them

SEOUL - High youth unemployment, feuding politicians and a cost of living crisis: Young South Korean voters told AFP what was on their minds as they voted – some for the first time – in

elections on April 10.

This election cycle, younger voters were outnumbered by those over 60, official data showed, and at polling booths across the capital Seoul, there were visibly more older voters casting their ballots.

AFP spoke to some younger voters to find out what was going on.

Hard to find jobs

Outside a polling station set up in a Kia car showroom, university student Ahn Hyun-sup, 21, told AFP that it was his first time voting in a parliamentary election.

“These days, many young people are not interested in elections. But if the young don’t go out to cast their ballots, politicians will no longer listen to their opinions,” he said.

“That’s why I came to vote today. It is difficult for younger people to find jobs. I hope the newly elected lawmakers will solve some of the employment issues.”

Addressing the country’s famously adversarial politics, he said: “I hope they stop fighting and make policies for the people.”

Life not improving

For another first-time voter, Mr Kim Yong-ho, 24, who owns a food and beverage business, it is important to vote because those who do not participate do not have the right to criticise the system.

Compared with the 2022 presidential election, “there is definitely less interest in this election”, he told AFP.

“I think it is because (people) feel rather disappointed. The real situation after the election didn’t improve as they expected,” he said.

“Maybe the future may change because of politics, but at present, I don’t really feel it’s that significant.”

Rising rents

Ms Son Su-yeon, 27, who works in the services industry, said it was her second time voting in a general election – and she believes it is very important that young people show up.

“The right to vote is so precious, I don’t want to squander that right,” she said, adding that people seemed more inclined to vote when they were discontent with the incumbent government.

Ms Son said she could see that politicians had been trying to address the country’s woefully low birthrate – the world’s lowest – but “most policies don’t seem realistic”.

But for her day-to-day life, the most important issue she wanted the government to focus on was unaffordable housing for young people living in capital Seoul.

This “is one of the biggest problems now”, she said. “I’m planning to get married in a few years, so that’s something I have to consider.”

Cost of living

Ms Choi Ji-sun, 25, has voted in every election since she became eligible, making April 10 her third vote after the 2020 general election and the 2022 presidential election.

“I believe the most powerful right citizens have is our right to vote,” she told AFP, adding that it was important for citizens to stay politically engaged to hold politicians to account.

“There are too many policies, and not all policy pledges are kept, so I’ve gradually become disengaged and my expectations have fallen,” she added.

Politicians of all stripes make many promises on the campaign trail, she said, and have “always talked about creating a country where young people can thrive”.

“But if you look at the current situation, the cost of living is too high and there are not many policies for young people, even though my income level is not high at all. It’s a bit bittersweet.”

‘No impact’

Despite always voting, university student Cho Na-young, 22, who is currently looking for work, said she did not feel that her political participation made much difference.

“To be honest, even if the members of the National Assembly or the president change, my life doesn’t seem to change that much,” she told AFP.

“I don’t live on (state) subsidies, and I don’t pay a lot of taxes. I don’t think (a change of government) really has much of an impact on my life,” she added.

Even so, she said she was voting to try and make sure “a party that I hate would not be elected”.

“My friends also said they didn’t like Lee Jae-myung and wanted to prevent Lee from being elected,” she added, referring to the scandal-plagued leader of the opposition.

North Korea tensions

All South Korean men must perform around 18 months of mandatory military service, and Mr Kim Yeong-kwang, 21, told AFP he had just finished his time in the army.

“Because I was recently discharged from the military, I’m most concerned about North Korea relations and national security issues,” the university student said.

If the ruling People Power Party were to lose, it is possible that South Korea’s foreign policy could shift and become more pro-China and less hawkish on the nuclear-armed North.

“The young need to show more interest to make politicians care more about us and put forward policies for us,” he said.

“But it seems we are not that interested, maybe because we’re too busy making a living.” AFP