[General Election Challengers]⑦ '21st Century Politicians' Born in the 2000s Emerge... Young Blood Throws Down the Gauntlet

Kang Sabin, Park Jihyun, Park Seongmin, Son Sol... 20s Challenge
Kim Ingyu and Other 30s Candidates... Spotlight on 'Lee Junseok's New Party'
78% of Preliminary Candidates Are in Their 50s and 60s... Yeouido's High Entry Barrier

Editor's NoteWith the arrival of the new year 2024, the political landscape for the 22nd general election has officially opened. Public sentiment remains shrouded in uncertainty. Unexpected variables have emerged, such as the assault on Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Both ruling and opposition parties are rapidly moving into the candidate nomination phase. Voters are watching the nomination process closely to judge whether renewal will occur. They are evaluating the 'direction' and 'figures' that parties aim for. Political parties do not only innovate; sometimes they regress. Since the election is about choosing representatives of the people for the next four years, it is crucial to scrutinize them carefully. This series examines candidates by major fields and generations: ① Presidential Office ② Bureaucrats ③ Legal and Police Sectors ④ Military ⑤ Incumbent Face-offs ⑥ Old Boys (OB) ⑦ 2030 Generation

With three months remaining until the general election, 'young blood' born in the 1980s and 1990s are increasingly throwing their hats into the ring. Politicians born in the 2000s, the 21st century politicians, have also appeared. Unlike entrenched senior incumbents who have settled in their strongholds, these young challengers do not hesitate to run in difficult constituencies, calling for a generational change in the 'Yeouido political arena.' We have examined the profiles of 2030 politicians who will bring a 'wind of change' in the political structure long monopolized by the older generation, focusing on 'district challengers.'

'Young Blood' Bold Challenges... "We Will Change the Political Scene"

According to the National Election Commission, as of the 11th, there are four candidates in their 20s registered on the preliminary candidate list for the 22nd general election.

First, in Seoul, Son Sol, chief spokesperson of the Progressive Party (29), has declared candidacy for the Seoul Seodaemun-gap district. Born in Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do, he began his 20s in Seodaemun-gu during the Park Geun-hye administration. In April 2015, he was elected president of the Ewha Womans University student council and led protest rallies against incidents such as the 'National Intelligence Service comment manipulation scandal' and the 'Sewol ferry disaster.' Even in high school, during a school program called 'Writing My Vision,' he wrote, "My mission is to create a world with shelters for those who are tired and struggling," showing an early passion for politics.

Seodaemun-gap has become a vacant territory as the perennial rivals 'Woo Sang-ho and Lee Sung-heon' have disappeared. Woo Sang-ho, a Democratic Party member, declared early on that he would not run, and Lee Sung-heon, a former member of the People Power Party who faced Woo six times, was elected Seodaemun District Mayor in the recent local elections. Son, the chief spokesperson, has ambitions to bring 'new change' to a political arena long monopolized by the two major parties. He has been steadily increasing his interaction with residents through morning greetings around Ahyeon Station, Hongje Station, and Yeonhui Samgeori.

Son told reporters, "Seodaemun-gu has many residents who moved to Seoul from other regions or are single-person households," describing it as "the neighborhood where people most like me live." He added, "Since the political system was established in 1987, there have been many demands for change in politics, but none have been properly implemented. Addressing upcoming social crises such as the climate crisis and declining birth rates is the task our generation must undertake." He especially emphasized, "I want to create a kind neighborhood where young people live together and help each other."

There is also a '21st-century politician.' Kang Sa-bin, full-time deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party (23), has declared candidacy for Daegu Jung-nam district. Born in 2001, he is currently studying in the Department of Fine Arts at Kyungpook National University and serves as director of the Youth Now Policy Research Institute. He gained recognition as the youngest candidate in Jung-nam district during the 2022 by-election. In September last year, he was appointed full-time deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party and has retained his position under the 'Han Dong-hoon emergency committee' system.

As a young candidate, he broke the convention of recruiting well-known politicians as campaign chairpersons. Instead, he formed a support committee centered around Heo Chang-young, born in 1999, who runs the online newspaper 'Youth Daily.' He has proposed pledges that resonate with local residents, such as ▲ constructing a large parking lot in Dongseong-ro ▲ establishing a local youth center ▲ creating the Dongseong-ro Community Campus Town (DCT), gradually gaining public support.

The year 2024, Gapjin Year (甲辰年), the "Year of the Blue Dragon." The 21st National Assembly, marked by extreme confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, has come to an end, and the year of the general election to form the 22nd National Assembly has dawned. Like the sun rising through the dark night, there is hope that the National Assembly will be reborn anew through the April general election. The photo shows Yeouido National Assembly Building with the sun passing by, captured multiple times at 20-minute intervals from sunrise to sunset, then composited with the night view. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

There are more '20s politicians' attracting attention who have not yet officially registered as preliminary candidates. A representative example is Park Ji-hyun, former emergency committee chairperson of the Democratic Party (27), who declared candidacy for Seoul Songpa-eul. She first gained recognition by uncovering the details of the so-called 'Telegram Nth Room scandal' through her activities with the investigative group 'Chujeokdan Bulkkot.' She then appeared in Yeouido in March 2022 as co-chairperson of the Democratic Party's emergency committee.

Facing off against incumbent People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin and Democratic Party Songpa-eul district chairman Song Ki-ho, she is growing her presence by directly criticizing the failures of the Yoon Seok-youl administration and various controversies faced by the Democratic Party. She is clearly defining her colors with pledges focused on 'eradicating sexual crimes' and 'labor issues.' Although her nomination status is uncertain, she plans to stay within the party and promote a wave of reform.

Park Sung-min, former youth secretary at the Presidential Secretariat during the Moon Jae-in administration (27), has declared candidacy for Gyeonggi Yongin-jeong. The incumbent Democratic Party lawmaker for the district, Lee Tan-hee, recently announced he would not run. Park has lived in Yongin for over 20 years and began his political career as chairman of the district's university student committee. As the 'youngest-ever Blue House secretary,' attention is on whether he will bring a 'fresh breeze' in the general election.

Additionally, Kim Hye-mi, former vice-chairperson of the Green Party (29), is expected to run in Seoul Mapo-gap. She is a civic activist with a major in social welfare. She argues that a 'welfare expert' is needed to support socially marginalized groups such as those affected by the climate crisis, women, workers, minorities, and people with disabilities.

30s Candidates Concentrated in the Ruling Party... Watch for the 'Lee Jun-seok New Party' Surge

The '30s candidates' attracting public attention are mostly concentrated in the ruling party. First, former People Power Party youth supreme council member Jang Ye-chan (35) and Son Su-jo, leader of the Leaders Club (38), both declared their candidacy on the 9th. Jang is running in Busan Suyeong, and Son in Gyeonggi Dongducheon-Yeoncheon. Both districts are held by incumbent People Power Party lawmakers, making their candidacies noteworthy.

In his announcement, former supreme council member Jang introduced himself as a 'Yeouido insider' and pledged to bring change to Busan. Son, who lost consecutively to former President Moon Jae-in and People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won in the 19th and 20th general elections in Busan Sasang, emphasized that no female lawmaker has ever been elected in northern Gyeonggi, strengthening her rationale for running.

Kim Jae-seop, People Power Party Seoul Dobong-gap district committee chairman (36), is also sharpening his sword. He was nominated as the United Future Party candidate for Dobong-gap in the last general election but lost to Democratic Party candidate In Jae-geun in the final round. A Seoul National University law graduate and entrepreneur who ran the IT company Later, he entered politics as the preparatory committee chairman for the youth party 'Gachioreum.'

Kim In-gyu, former presidential office administrator and grandson of the late President Kim Young-sam (YS) (34), is also challenging in Busan Seo-Dong districts under the People Power Party banner. He aims to start his political career in his grandfather's constituency.

The 'reform candidate,' Lee Jun-seok, policy committee chairman of the Reform New Party (38), is also a subject of interest regarding where he will run. Known as a 'Park Geun-hye kid' who appeared in Yeouido, he has run three times in the Seoul Nowon-byeong district but finished second each time. While speculation suggests he might run again in Nowon-byeong in the upcoming election, as he is leading the formation of a new party after leaving the People Power Party, scenarios focusing on building a 'third zone big tent' are also being discussed. There is also speculation that he might run alongside co-founders Cheon Ha-ram, Heo Eun-ah, and Lee Gi-in in Daegu, the Reform New Party's first destination. However, Lee remains tight-lipped about specifying his candidacy district.

Cheon Ha-ram, co-founder of the Reform New Party and a leading young politician in the ruling camp (39), is another figure to watch. He is expected to run again in Jeollanam-do Suncheon-gap, where he has maintained steady activity since his time as a People Power Party district committee chairman. Born in Daegu and having braved the strongly anti-conservative sentiment in Honam, Cheon is regarded as a politician symbolizing the breaking of regionalism. On the 9th, he told SBS Radio, "Running in Suncheon to create a 'Honam bridgehead' is a meaningful process for the Reform New Party," adding, "Our goal is a 'centrist conservative' new party that can embrace rational progressives and free conservative progressives."

Ryu Ho-jeong, the youngest member of the 21st National Assembly and Justice Party lawmaker (31), plans to run in Seongnam Bundang-gap. After being fired from a game company in Pangyo, she became active as a youth labor activist. Since entering the National Assembly as a proportional representative, she has focused on building public support by opening an office in Yatap-dong. Over the past four years, she has raised her voice for women, youth, labor, and other socially vulnerable groups. Her exchange of policy dialogue with Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon during government questioning was a highlight. However, her recent joining of the third zone new party faction is a variable. Some view her external activities as 'co-leader of the third power' without leaving the Justice Party unfavorably.

Yong Hye-in, standing representative of the Basic Income Party (33), is also keeping the possibility of running in a district open. She entered the National Assembly as number 5 on the proportional representation list of the 'Together Citizens Party,' a satellite party of the Democratic Party, in the 21st general election. The 'Sewol ferry disaster' was her entry point into politics. Representative Yong plans to focus on the victory of the 'Reform Coalition New Party,' which unites the progressive camp, rather than her own election preparations. Although there is a possibility of running again as a proportional representative since the Basic Income Party has only one seat, this issue is intertwined with electoral reform, making it difficult to conclude.

Old Political Arena... Still High Barriers for the 2030 Generation

After concluding the 21st regular session of the National Assembly, the ruling and opposition parties will enter a temporary session on the 11th. The temporary session, which will last for 30 days until the 9th of next month, is expected to see continued confrontation between the parties over the handling of next year's budget bill, which has exceeded the legal deadline, the confirmation hearings for the second-term cabinet of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, and the Democratic Party's push for a dual special investigation. The photo shows the main building of the National Assembly reflected in a convex mirror on the day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The political arena in South Korea is still dominated by the 50s and 60s generations. According to the statistics of preliminary candidates registered with the National Election Commission as of the 11th, there are only 4 candidates in their 20s, 37 in their 30s, and 133 in their 40s. In contrast, there are 432 candidates in their 50s and 353 in their 60s. There are also 38 candidates aged 70 or older. In terms of proportion, out of 997 total preliminary candidates, the 2030 generation accounts for 41 (4.1%), while the 5060 generation accounts for 785 (78.7%), showing a stark contrast. Although demands for innovation and generational change continue, the winds of change remain distant.