Average Age of Proportional Representation Candidates 51 Years...Lack of Youth Consideration

The People’s Future, a satellite party for proportional representation under the People Power Party, has released its list of proportional representation candidates. The average age exceeding 50 made their claim of considering youth seem insincere.

Yuiljun Yoo, the nomination committee chairman of the People’s Future, the satellite party for proportional representation of the People Power Party, is announcing the order of proportional representation candidates at the Yeouido party headquarters on the 18th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 18th, the People’s Future announced the list of proportional representation candidates from number 1 to 35. Lawyer Choi Boyun was placed at number 1. Being a woman in her 40s, a person with a disability, and having worked on issues related to the vulnerable as a human rights management committee member of the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled contributed to her selection. Former People Power Party Innovation Committee Chair In Yohan received number 8. Incumbent proportional representative Kim Yeji was assigned number 15, making her re-election highly likely. Joo Gihwan, former chairman of the People Power Party Gwangju City Party, who was assigned number 24, withdrew from candidacy citing lack of consideration for the Honam region.

The average age of the proportional representation candidates is about 51. By age group, there are 6 in their 30s, 9 in their 40s, 9 in their 50s, and 11 in their 60s. Compared to the average age of 57 among the 254 People Power Party candidates running in constituencies, the difference is only 6 years. The female ratio is about 51%, barely exceeding the 50% threshold required by the Public Official Election Act.

Among the 19 recruited talents, only 9 survived. Among the recruited talents, Park Chungkwon, a senior researcher at Hyundai Steel, received the highest ranking at number 2. This is interpreted as reflecting both his engineering background and status as a defector from North Korea. Choi Sujin, a special professor at Korea Polytechnic University, was placed at number 3; “Shooting Emperor” Jin Jongoh, chairman of the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Organizing Committee, at number 4; former Army Aviation Operations Command Commander Kang Seonyeong at number 5; former Ministry of Foreign Affairs Korea Peace Negotiation Headquarters Director Kim Geon at number 6; and Kim Sohee, Secretary General of the Climate Change Center, was placed at number 7.

The People’s Future lamented practical difficulties in response to criticism about insufficient consideration for youth. Yoo Iljun, the People’s Future nomination management committee chair, said, “Honestly, in politics, people in their 40s are also considered youth,” adding, “There were applicants in their 20s, but compared to those in their mid-30s and older, they are less prepared and have shorter careers.”