Ruling and Opposition Parties Gather Youth in Yeouido... Busy Competing for 2030 Votes (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, reporter Kang Nahum] On January 19, the Democratic Party and the Liberty Korea Party each held political events targeting young people, officially launching their competition to win the support of voters in their 20s and 30s.

On this day, the Democratic Party held the National Youth Party Advancement Rally at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. The National Youth Party is the new name given to the party's youth organization after it was restructured from the previous "National Youth Committee." The event was attended by a large number of people in their 20s and 30s, including Democratic Party lawmakers such as Lee Inyoung, the party’s floor leader, Jang Kyungtae, the head of the National Youth Committee, and youth committee leaders from various cities and provinces.

Floor Leader Lee addressed the attendees, saying, "I hope you will step over people like me, the old guard, and become the vanguard of our party, carrying the values of fairness, innovation, and the future."

He continued, "Let me say just one thing as an old guard. This general election is key to completing the Candlelight Citizens' Revolution and ensuring the success of the Moon Jaein administration. However, the Liberty Korea Party is doing everything it can to reverse the reforms we have achieved over the past two years."

He further criticized, "The Liberty Korea Party's first pledge was to abolish the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and every pledge they have announced since then has been aimed at blocking expansionary fiscal policy, opposing energy policy, abolishing the 52-hour workweek, and reverting to Park Geunhye administration policies such as encouraging people to buy homes with debt."

Floor Leader Lee said, "This is why the Democratic Party’s determination and responsibility in this election are so great. Our party is thoroughly preparing for the general election, making sure not to miss a single thing when it comes to people and policy pledges, with fairness, innovation, and the future as our values. As we face this great battle, we absolutely need you as our vanguard."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the same time, the Liberty Korea Party also held an event titled "The 90s Generation Comes to Yeouido - The Rebellion of the 20s Challenging the 86 Generation's Established Politics" in the auditorium on the second floor of the party's central headquarters, with party leader Hwang Kyoahn in attendance. Notably, before the event began, the party announced Kim Byungmin, a visiting professor at Kyung Hee University and the youngest former district councilor (age 37), as its fourth key recruit for the general election, energizing the atmosphere.

During the main event, five young people born in the 1990s-Lee Minkook, co-CEO of Urbanic Labs; Kang Uijeong, investment manager at Seoul Technology Investment; Ok Jiweon, former management strategy analyst at Morgan Stanley; Lee Younghwan of Flair Partners; and Choi Hyunseok, CEO of Limco Farm-shared their perspectives on Yeouido as seen by the 90s generation, together with Professor Kim.

Party leader Hwang said, "Like other parties, I have heard people say that the Liberty Korea Party treats young people as disposable, using them once and then discarding them. That truly broke my heart. Our party will not do that."

He added, "In the past, our party may have been difficult for young people to approach, but now we are changing. I am making it a top priority to make our party youth-friendly."

Hwang emphasized, "We have recruited well-known figures such as Visiting Professor Kim Byungmin as young talent. We will not pursue disposable youth policies, but sustainable youth policies. We will be a party where people work according to their abilities, not their age."

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