24-Year-Old Junior University Student Causes Local Political Stir... Choi Ji-won Confirmed as Democratic Party Candidate for Jinju City B District

Jiwon Choi, candidate for Jinju City Council, Bar Electoral District.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Ahead of the June local elections, a 24-year-old third-year university student born in 1998 has caused a stir. On the 8th, Choi Ji-won (24) was finally confirmed as the Democratic Party candidate for the Jinju City Council District B in Gyeongnam.

In this electoral district, where three Democratic Party preliminary candidates competed, the political newcomer Choi was confirmed, surpassing incumbents and others, sparking a fresh breeze in the local political scene.

Since the last presidential election, attention has been focused on the political trends of the 2030 generation, and Choi attracted attention by registering as the youngest preliminary candidate among Jinju City Council candidates and immediately throwing her hat into the ring.

Choi Ji-won is the youngest candidate among both ruling and opposition parties in Jinju City and is currently enrolled in the Department of Art Education at the College of Education, Gyeongsang National University.

Choi, who has been interested in politics since the 2016 impeachment crisis, joined the Democratic Party as a party member in 2018 and has been involved in party activities and political training through participation in the National University Student Committee and the National Delegates. Last year, she also served as the chairperson of the university student committee of the Jinju City Eul regional committee.

Choi said, “There is a significant gap between local councils and reality and the expectations for youth politics,” adding, “I want to engage in politics that represent local youth so that the commonly called ‘youth’ does not become an empty slogan.”

Choi said she was inspired to participate in politics by watching her father, who worked as a public official at a Gyeongnam provincial affiliate and formed a labor union for the first time to fight for labor rights.

She said, “I want to reflect the thoughts of local youth that established politicians fail to represent and meet many citizens directly to prioritize public interest in politics.”