South Korean youth say the government is failing them as they feel under-represented in parliament
- The nation’s politics is dominated by older men, and many young people are struggling to get by
South Korean voters aged 60 and older outnumbered those in both their 20s and 30s.
South Korean voters aged 60 and older outnumbered those in both their 20s and 30s.
Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
Many young people in South Korea believe the government is failing them as they are under-represented in politics.
The poll to choose the National Assembly’s 300 lawmakers earlier this month was the first vote in South Korean history where voters aged 60 and older outnumbered those in both their 20s and 30s, official data shows.
This is partly because South Korea has the world’s lowest birth rate and is a rapidly ageing society. Politics is also dominated by older men.
Voter turnout in South Korea is lower among the young. Experts say this is linked to growing dissatisfaction. The younger generation is struggling with cutthroat competition in education, fewer job openings, and sky-high housing costs.
At an event in Seoul aimed at bringing out the youth vote, Lee Cheol-bin said: “We have to vote ... because we can’t live like this.”