Candidate Jo O-seop Holds 'Lunchbox Dialogue' with Former and Current Youth Council Chairpersons

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jo Oseop, the Democratic Party preliminary candidate for the National Assembly election in Buk-gu Gap, Gwangju Metropolitan City, held a lunchbox dialogue with current and former members of the Children and Youth Assembly as a communication opportunity with teenagers who have gained the right to vote at the age of 18 for the first time.

The event was held to share the diverse political voices of 18-year-old teenagers, who gained voting rights starting from the 21st general election due to the revision of the Public Official Election Act, in a comfortable atmosphere.

The teenagers who attended the lunchbox dialogue were Kim Jeongbin (18, Jeonnam Technical High School), Kim Sewoong (19, Geumpa Technical High School), Moon Hyunjun (18, Sungui High School), and Hwang Yesul (21, Gwangju Women's University), totaling four students.

Kim Jeongbin, recently elected as the 4th chairperson of the Children and Youth Assembly (affiliated with the Labor Nadong Party), said, "At 18, you can join the military, get a driver's license, and get married, but until now, there was no suffrage," adding, "With the acquisition of voting rights, teenagers are growing one step further and their interest in politics is actually increasing."

Moon Hyunjun (affiliated with the Want to Live Like a Human Party, re-elected member of the 3rd and 4th assemblies) stated, "Since 2019, we have been promoting an ordinance to conduct youth education related to political parties and politics," and added, "To dispel concerns about biased political tendencies as some fear, it seems a good idea to prepare a method for the National Election Commission, which has strong neutrality, to provide youth political and party education, as suggested by preliminary candidate Jo Oseop."

Hwang Yesul, who served as the inaugural chairperson of the Children and Youth Assembly, said, "Two years ago, preliminary candidate Jo took charge of the election commission for the Children and Youth Assembly election and helped a lot for the assembly to be established," emphasizing, "I believe that preliminary candidate Jo, who has always engaged in politics from the perspective of youth and communicated with teenagers, will create policies and conduct politics suitable for an era where youth political participation is becoming full-fledged."

Preliminary candidate Jo said, "Having the right to vote for the first time at 18 means having the right to take the strongest action to directly solve issues related to one's own life," and added, "Through this process, teenagers will learn and train in democracy and be able to establish themselves as more mature members of society."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.