Feb 26 • 20:18 UTC 🇰🇷 Korea Hankyoreh (KR)

Guarantee Voting Rights for Yoo Gwan-soon, Kim Joo-yeol, and Moon Jae-hak

The article advocates for granting voting rights to adolescents aged 16 to 17 in South Korea, emphasizing their role as both current and future stakeholders in democracy.

The article emphasizes the critical role of youth in South Korea's democratic history, noting that many teenagers who are currently 16 or 17 contributed significantly to the nation's fight for democracy. It recalls prominent historical figures like Yoo Gwan-soon, who was only 16 during the March 1st Movement, and Kim Joo-yeol, who was 17 when he died during protests against the government. Their sacrifices underscore the argument that teenagers should not only be viewed as the future but as active participants in the present political landscape.

The text highlights inconsistencies in the legal voting age, noting that despite recognizing the contributions of youth in the independence movement and subsequent democratic struggles, the current voting laws in South Korea deny them that fundamental right until they turn 18 or 21, depending on the historical context. The article calls for a reassessment of the voting age to align with the democratic ideals upheld by the nation's constitution and history.

Ending with a call to action, the piece argues that today's youth are capable of understanding and participating in democratic processes and should be empowered to vote, thus influencing the immediate trajectory of their country. It challenges policymakers to consider the implications of disenfranchising a significant portion of the population and argues that true democratic participation begins with including voices of all ages.

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