[General Election of Gyeongryang] Winning the Youth Vote... Three Parties, Three Strategies in the Battle of Wits

Democratic Party Bets on Policies Like Conscription System
Liberty Korea Party Highlights 'Regime Judgment Theory'
Bareunmirae Party Targets Capital Region, Honam, Youth, and Nonpartisans

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The ruling and opposition parties are fiercely competing in the general election. Each party views the votes of the '2030' youth demographic as the key battleground in this election. The Democratic Party of Korea is actively courting to win back the hearts of young voters who defected due to the Cho Kuk scandal, while the Liberty Korea Party and Bareunmirae Party are striving to attract support from those who have turned their backs on the ruling party.

The Democratic Party aims to secure an outright majority or a majority within the pro-government coalition to firmly support the second half of the Moon Jae-in administration. To achieve this, securing the support of the youth, considered their "home base," is essential. They plan to leverage their advantage as the ruling party by focusing on policy initiatives. Examples include the introduction of a volunteer military system, the creation of youth new towns, and a national responsibility system for youth housing.

Kang Hoon-sik, a Democratic Party lawmaker and spokesperson for the election planning team, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "(The Democratic Party) decided on the nomination rules a year ago and set a tone early on to prepare for a predictable election," adding, "Many young people and women are placed at the forefront, and we are preparing so that youth can create the future and hope while ensuring fairness." The party's selection of Professor Choi Hye-young (40) from the Department of Social Welfare Administration at Gangdong University as their first recruit on the 26th of last month can be seen as an extension of this strategy.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Liberty Korea Party plans to put the 'judgment on the regime' theory front and center. They intend to highlight the Moon Jae-in administration and ruling party's failures, focusing on issues such as the Cho Kuk scandal, allegations of the Ulsan mayor's ordered investigation, and the forced passage of fast-track bills. Youth and women are also key keywords for the Liberty Korea Party in this election. Lee Jin-bok, a lawmaker and head of the party's general election planning team, said, "We plan to empower youth and women significantly," adding, "We want the public to recognize that our party has made a strategic choice to shed the image of a 'conservative old guard party' and move forward as a party for the future through personnel renewal and reform-minded thinking."

The Liberty Korea Party's election planning team has defined admission and recruitment corruption involving children or relatives as so-called 'Cho Kuk-type crimes' and decided to exclude candidates involved in such cases from next year's election nominations. Additionally, to broaden the gateway for political newcomers, they decided to grant youth candidates up to a 50% bonus in the candidate selection process.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Bareunmirae Party dreams of a 'second People's Party surge.' They aim to capture voters who have turned away from the two major parties and firmly establish themselves as the third party. Lim Jae-hoon, secretary-general of the Bareunmirae Party, emphasized, "We must quickly reorganize the party and adhere to a clear centrist reform line," adding, "We need to focus on targeting the non-affiliated voters in the metropolitan area, Honam region, and youth."

There is also a considerable possibility of forming a 'big tent' as a hidden card. Political forces such as the Alternative Party and the Party for Democracy and Peace may join forces centered around the Bareunmirae Party to contest the general election together. Within the party, there is a widespread perception that it will be difficult to break through the election with the Bareunmirae Party's banner alone, which is trapped in a 4-6% support range. Ultimately, movements toward integration and alliance among parties pursuing the third zone are expected to actively develop around the Lunar New Year holiday.