Politics Only Chants 'Youth': The Empty Promises to a Generation

As the Democratic Party of Korea gears up for its August convention, prominent candidates are vying for the party's leadership by rolling out a flurry of policy proposals specifically targeting 'youth.' These pledges range from establishing dedicated policy task forces and ensuring youth representation in party leadership to ambitious projects like sending 100,000 young people abroad for job opportunities and increasing university dormitory capacity. This surge in 'youth-centric' rhetoric follows a perceived dip in support from the 20-30 demographic in the recent local elections.

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We will establish a '1030 Policy Task Force' directly under the party leader, regularize party-government youth consultations and inter-ministerial youth minister meetings, and guarantee at least one youth representative among the party's elected supreme council members.

However, for many young people, including this reporter who covers the political beat, these pronouncements often ring hollow. The very notion of a singular 'youth problem' is questionable, given the vast disparities within this age group. For instance, the wealth gap between the richest and poorest 20% of individuals in their 20s can be as wide as 34-fold. The life experiences of a student undertaking a demanding internship at a call center, as depicted in the film 'Next Sohee,' are vastly different from those of a third-generation chaebol heir founding an investment firm, as in the drama 'Reborn Rich.'

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We will select one male and one female proportional representative in their 20s and 30s and place them in safe seats. One of the party-appointed supreme council members will be selected from among the party's youth members.

While certain life challenges, such as securing employment, affording housing, and navigating marriage and family, are common during youth, lumping them under the umbrella of 'youth policy' risks oversimplification. Addressing the scarcity of 'decent jobs' across various employment types (full-time, contract, freelance) and ensuring their availability nationwide is fundamentally an 'employment policy.' Similarly, creating a society where affordable housing is accessible regardless of income level is a 'housing policy.'

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We will implement the 'Jang Bogo 100,000 Project' to send 100,000 young people who cannot find jobs to the world. We will increase university dormitory capacity to 50% and support youth seed money through 'Super ISA (Individual Savings Account).'

By framing these issues as solely 'youth policies,' politicians often resort to broad slogans like 'We will do something for these struggling youths' without offering concrete solutions. This approach not only fails to provide targeted support to those who truly need it but also risks alienating other demographics. The article suggests that a more effective path forward involves increasing the number of young individuals, from diverse backgrounds, actively participating in politics and ensuring their voices are genuinely reflected in party operations and policy-making.

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As a reporter covering politics and as a young person myself, the political invocation of 'youth' always feels empty.