Young voters emerge as key to winning 2022 election

Nov 10, 2021, 09:30 am

AsiaToday reporter Jo Jae-hak

Ahead of the March 9 presidential election next year, the presence of young people in their 20s and 30s called the “MZ Generation” – a combination of Millennials and Generation Z – is growing. Accounting for nearly a third of all voters, the MZ Generation has actively cast their votes after the April 7 by-election, emerging as the new center of the upcoming presidential election.

According to registered resident statistics released Tuesday by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, voters in their 20s and 30s (including those aged 18 and 19) accounted for 32.7 percent of all voters as of the end of last month. The figure is higher than those in their 60s, which account for 29.3 percent.

Another reason why they draw attention is that there are many young swing voters. While presidential candidates of both ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) have been confirmed, the MZ Generation is seemingly observing the political situation.

In a hypothetical matchup between DP candidate Lee Jae-myung and PPP candidate Yoon Seok-youl, swing voters in their 20s accounted for 35.5 percent and those in their 30s accounting for 26 percent, a Monday poll by the Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI) showed. The figure is three times higher than hat of other generations.

Young voters emerged as active voters through various elections this year. In particular, male voters in their 20s and 30s experienced a sense of political efficacy by electing Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and PPP leader Lee Jun-seok at the April 7 by-elections and the June 11 party convention of the People Power Party, respectively. Those in their 20s and 30s are expected to have a high turnout in the upcoming presidential election.

“Young people are well aware that they can change their livelihood by casting their ballots,” said Park Sang-byung, a professor at Inha University, in a phone interview with AsiaToday. “The younger generation will be more willing to vote because the upcoming presidential election is expected to be a tight race.”

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