지방선거를 통해 살펴본 청년정치의 한계와 가능성

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the participation and limitations of youth in local politics through the current status of youth political representation in local elections and voters' perceptions of young politicians, and to derive improvement tasks. Although local politics is a field of grassroots democracy and youth political participation is positively recognized, the results of the study show that youth participation in local governments and local councils is rather low. This is the part that differentiates them from women who have gradually increased their representation in local councils despite being of the same political minority. As a result of the perception survey, voters perceive that young politicians may lack experience or competency compared to established politicians, but are more honest and reformative, and there were many opinions that the number of youth lawmakers should be increased to represent the interests of young people. And as a way to do that, they see that it is important to foster young politicians and expand their nominations by political parties, and there were many positive responses to the introduction of the youth quota system. In the 21st National Assembly, efforts were made to systematically expand the political representation of young people through amendments to related laws, such as lowering the age at which the right to vote and the age of party membership were lowered, and the establishment of a youth recommendation subsidy and youth political development fund. In addition to these institutional reforms, the political participation of young people can be expanded when the party's efforts to discover and appoint young politicians are paralleled.