What are Politics to Dankookians?


The survey can be classified into 4 types.

Korea was busy with the 19th General Election last April 11. As a result of voting, Congress members were elected by regional groups. The vote rate of people in their twenties was one of the hot issues this election. In 2010, turnout rate for people in their twenties for local elections was 41.9%, and in this year's general election the rate was 45%. It is increasing, although it is still lower than the total voter turnout rate of 54.3%. It is true that youth are interested in voting, but people in their sixties and seventies are still showing more interest.
"If voter turnout of people in their twenties get above 50%, tuition will decrease by 50%," said Comedian Jae-Dong Kim.
What is the meaning of these words? It means, to live a better life, people in their twenties should vote. We know this group's votes are important, and society encourages them to vote. Then, how do Dankookians think about voting.
We carried out a survey surrounding the 19th General Election of 100 Dankookians, 40 from the College of Engineering, 40 from the College of Humanities, and 20 from the College of Arts & Humanities. The contents of the survey asked whether respondents participated in voting and read the campaign bulletin. Dankookians' interest in the general election can be classified into 4 types as follows.
Type 1 students (the largest group at 48%) did not vote or read the campaign bulletin. Type 2, people who voted but did not read the campaign bulletin, were an unexpectedly low 14% of respondents. Type 3 students - 30% of respondents - did not vote even though they read the campaign bulletin. Type 4 students (18% of the 100) both voted and read the campaign bulletin.
Responding answers regarding participation or nonparticipation and reasons for reading the campaign bulletin were diverse. Reasons why respondents participated in voting included 'voting is our right,' 'I long for political change,' and 'I am generally interested in politics.' There were also views on why students did not participate in voting this general election, including 'no interest,' 'to take a rest on that day,' 'no interest in politics,' 'having difficulty with politics,' and 'do not trust politicians.' Students who participated in voting generally considered voting as their basic right and even as a duty of democratic citizens. On the other hand, students who did not participate in voting showed a distrust tendency toward politics. Especially, there were quite a lot of students who regarded Election Day as a day off rather than one of the national events.
The result of asking respondents why they read the campaign bulletin included 'to read a realistic bulletin,' 'interested in politics,' and 'by parents' recommendation.' Students who did not read the bulletin expressed views such as 'no interest,' 'politicians will fudge on their campaign promises,' and 'I had already made my choice.' Lastly, asking what will change through voting, students answered 'nothing particularly,' 'citizens have more participation, so politicians will work harder,' and 'we can develop our local community.'
The fact that some students replied 'nothing particularly' is worthy of notice, because these students were more than half of those surveyed. Although Type 1 made up 48%, 'no difference' holds a large majority. Students expect change by voting but they do not believe in that change. The Dankook Herald (DKH) interviewed some students who participated in this survey, to listen more specifically to opinions about this general election.
DKH: Why were you concerned about the 19th General Election, and why did you vote? What will change through voting?
Student of Type 1: I voted because I have been interested in politics. Firstly, I wanted to voice my intent, and I want to actualize half-price tuition and regime change.
Student of Type 2: I voting is our right and obligation, so I voted. The reason why I did not read the official report is that I chose the party in accordance with my political line. So, I could not feel any necessity to look into the details. I think we can grow from a community to the world through voting.
Student of Type 3: I was concerned about voting because of my parents' inducement. But I could not vote because I could not go to my hometown that day. I think we can change politics and a nation through taking interest in politics and voting.
Student of Type 4: Most of the pledges were inclusive and unrealistic. That's the reason why I didn't read the official report. Even if I vote, it would change nothing because over half of National Assembly members are just re-elected for a second, third or greater term.
Through the last Seoul mayor by-election, the tuition fee at the University of Seoul was reduced to half. The new tuition just 25% the tuition fee of Ewha Women's University. In the 19th General Election, turnout of people in their twenties in Seoul was 64%. Through the precedent set by the case of the University of Seoul, young voters felt that they can make their lives better through voting. In this election, the turnout of Dankookians was 62%. It is similar with turnout of people in their twenties in Seoul, and it is much higher than the national turnout of people in their twenties, which was 45%. DKH has come to know the thoughts of people in their twenties about voting. Some of them are positive, and others are negative. But a positive attitude toward voting is a way of making a better life. So, we urge Dankookians and all citizens in their twenties to participate in voting actively.

Hyeuk-Ku Kim dkherald@gmail.com

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