Korean Democracy Storytelling Youth Roundtable Held: The Future of 'K-Democracy' (feat. Millennials)

The East Asia Institute (EAI), as part of the South Korea Democracy Storytelling project supported by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), hosted the Youth Roundtable 'The Future of K-Democracy' (feat. Millennials) on Saturday, August 8, 2020. This roundtable consisted of presentations and discussions on the current state and future prospects of Korean democracy from the perspective of youth. Five youth representatives active in various youth organizations and political parties presented and discussed topics such as deliberative democracy, democracy in daily life, party democracy, parliamentary democracy, and the ecosystem of youth politics.

Lee Sook-Jong, EAI Senior Fellow and Professor at Sungkyunkwan University, and Kim Jung, Professor at the University of North Korean Studies, participated in this event to provide feedback on the youth's discussions on democracy. Additionally, the event provided a forum for youth active in research institutes, civic groups, and political parties, including university students and graduate students, to share and discuss diverse perspectives on Korean democracy.

Presenters and Discussants (In alphabetical order)

Kim Kyung-dong, Current Director General of the youth organization network 'The Young Tent'

Former President of Youth Politics School Class 1

Kim Dong-min, Current Representative of Nabi 1020

Former Member of the Youth Pledges Task Force for the 19th Presidential Election of the Liberty Korea Party

Kim In-ho, Current Operations Committee Member of Nae-il-eui-o-neul (Today for Tomorrow)

Former Member of the 2nd Innovation Committee of the Liberty Korea Party

Lee Yoon-jung, Former Local Council Member in the 6th National Simultaneous Local Elections (youngest female council member nationwide)

Former Visiting Researcher at the Yeouido Institute

Joo Hong-bi, Current Deputy Spokesperson for Youth of the Democratic Party of Korea

Current Co-Representative of Nara (a non-profit organization supervised by the National Assembly Secretariat)

Contact Person

Lee Eun-ji, Researcher at the East Asia Institute (EAI)

Opening Remarks: Lee Sook-Jong (EAI Senior Fellow; Professor, Sungkyunkwan University)

Presentation 1: Joo Hong-bi, "Democracy Requires Qualifications – Rights and Responsibilities of Politicians and Citizens"

Presentation 2: Kim In-ho, "Democracy in Daily Life – The Crisis of Democracy in Civil Society and Community Organizations"

Presentation 3: Lee Yoon-jung, "Party Democracy, Why Do We Repeat Our Mistakes?"

Presentation 4: Kim Dong-min, "Correcting Democracy – The Pillar of Parliament Amidst a Growing Democratic Crisis"

Presentation 5: Kim Kyung-dong, "The Present and Future of South Korean Democracy, and Our Preparation"

Feedback/Q&A