In brief
South Korean youth, once galvanized by protests against President Yoon Suk Yeol, find little hope in the current presidential candidates as pressing issues remain ignored.
After months of protests calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's removal, young South Koreans who rallied against his briefly imposed martial law now express disappointment with the presidential candidates in the recent election. Some feared that their voices might go unheard yet again, as many key issues affecting their lives remain unaddressed.With Election Day nearing, the sense of disillusionment among young voters is palpable. An Ye-young, a 20-year-old college entrance exam candidate who actively protested against Yoon, remarked, “My one thought on this election is disgust.” She expressed feeling let down by the options on the ballot.The dissatisfaction stems from the perceived inability of candidates to confront pressing issues such as youth unemployment, which reached a worrying four-year high of 6.8% among individuals aged 15 to 29 in early 2025. Critical discussions around pension reform and the discrimination and abuse faced by women are also notably absent from campaign platforms.In spite of their activism, many young South Koreans are left pondering what meaningful change the election can bring, fearing it may end up as “a feast with nothing to eat.” This pervasive sense of disenchantment raises concerns about the future engagement of this demographic in the political process, as they grapple with the implications of inadequate representation and action concerning their most urgent concerns.
