[Yoon Seok-yeol Elected] "I hope you create a happy Republic of Korea."

Citizens Demand Solutions to Social Issues Like Employment and Housing Prices
Civic Groups Urge Policies Prioritizing the Vulnerable

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Seongpil Cho, Byungseon Gong, Gyumin Oh] On the 10th, after the conclusion of the 20th presidential election, citizens expressed their hopes to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol. Although their reasons varied, all shared hope for the new president. Civil society organizations urged President-elect Yoon to prioritize policies that promote social integration and protect the vulnerable.

"Please solve employment and housing price issues"

University student Choi (23) said, "I recently finished military service, so I have many concerns about the future," adding, "I am worried about finding a job immediately, and I hope the president-elect will resolve this issue." Although Choi had a class at 9 a.m. that day, he reportedly stayed awake all night. He said, "I watched the vote count broadcast as well as the president-elect’s acceptance speech," and added, "I think I only slept about an hour."

Office worker Shin (32) also stayed up until 2 a.m. watching the vote count broadcast. Shin said, "He was not the candidate I supported, but I hope the president-elect will control housing prices." He is reportedly preparing for marriage. Shin said, "Housing prices in the area where I live have risen too much, so I am looking for a newlywed home in another area," and added, "I hope the president becomes one who fulfills the dream of owning a home."

Ahn (43) asked the president-elect to "create a society where children are safe." He said, "My daughter is now in elementary school, but the world feels dangerous and I feel uneasy," adding, "I especially hope crimes against children decrease." He also expressed expectations for the new government’s real estate policies. Ahn said, "I have been living in a jeonse lease since marriage," and added, "I hope to stop moving around and finally secure my own home."

"Please create a united Republic of Korea"

On the 9th, the day of the 20th presidential election, citizens are watching the exit poll results in the waiting room of Seoul Station. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

There were also many voices calling for national unity. Given that public opinion in this election was clearly divided between progressive and conservative camps, there is a call to soothe public sentiment and shift toward a unifying atmosphere. Jo (67) said, "It is honestly not what the people want for progressives and conservatives to just stick to their own sides," adding, "Isn’t it the world we live in that when one side struggles, the other supports and pulls them along?" He said, "Seeing the division into 'your side' and 'my side' was the hardest part," and added, "I hope a world where people help each other beyond progressives and conservatives is created."

Shim (72) also said, "I hope politics becomes one where people respect each other instead of fighting." Expressing fatigue over the negative attacks and intensified conflicts between camps until the final stages of the election, he voiced a desire for cooperative governance. Shim said, "Politics is not something done alone," and added, "Politics will work better if people respect each other."

Civil society organizations: "Must pursue social integration and protect the vulnerable"

Civil organizations also advised President-elect Yoon to prioritize social integration and protection of the vulnerable. Park Jeong-eun, Secretary General of the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, said, “Efforts toward social integration to overcome the escalating factional conflicts after the election, alleviation of socioeconomic inequality, and political reform are important tasks,” adding, “It must not lead to unchecked prosecutorial power that many citizens fear.”

Self-employed business owners welcomed President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol but emphasized they will watch whether he keeps his campaign promises. Min Sang-heon, head of the Korea Federation of Self-Employed Victims of COVID-19 (Koja-chong), said, "Self-employed business owners who followed government quarantine guidelines during COVID-19 suffered huge losses," adding, "If President-elect Yoon does not fulfill the promised compensation for losses, self-employed business owners will take to the streets again." He also added, "I hope policies that burden self-employed businesses, such as the expansion of the Labor Standards Act to workplaces with fewer than five employees, will be abolished."

Disability organizations also raised their voices hoping promises will be kept. Kim Pil-soon, Planning Director of the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, said, "Last December, President-elect Yoon promised to actively work on the budget for disability mobility rights," adding, "We are currently requesting the Ministry of Strategy and Finance to allocate the budget for disability mobility rights, and we hope it will be well reflected during his term."

Women’s organizations expressed concerns about President-elect Yoon. Bae Jin-kyung, head of the Korean Women Workers Association, said, "The misogyny and exclusion of women shown by President-elect Yoon during the election process must not continue after he becomes president," adding, "He must also keep promises such as improving the treatment of care workers and implementing the gender labor disclosure system." She also emphasized, "The abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family blocks the path to help structurally vulnerable groups, so it should be reconsidered."

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