Why is South Korea's 2030 Generation Turning Its Back on Politics?
Recently, the sense of disappointment felt by young people in their 20s and 30s toward the political sphere in South Korean society has been growing. Unlike in the past, young people feel that their voices are not being properly reflected in the political decision-making process, and they are expressing strong distrust toward the existing political establishment.
The points that anger young people the most are housing issues and jobs. High housing prices in the Seoul metropolitan area and other regions are a major obstacle to young people becoming independent. Furthermore, in a reality where it is difficult to find stable employment, young people are losing hope for the future.
Changes in values regarding fairness are also a significant cause. The younger generation considers equality of opportunity and fair competition to be more important than anything else in the process of achieving social success. However, after experiencing various social issues recently, many young people feel that the fairness of our society has been compromised.
This phenomenon shows that the gap between the political sphere and the younger generation is widening. Experts point out that the political sphere must understand the realistic concerns of young people and prepare practical policy alternatives.
Ultimately, to win back the hearts of young people, concrete changes that can improve their quality of life are needed, not just simple slogans. Depending on how much the political sphere listens to the voices of young people, the political landscape of South Korean society is expected to change significantly in the future.