The candidates of the South Korean presidential election are making efforts to attract young voters through digital campaigns ahead of the snap election scheduled for June 3.
With just days left until the ballot day, candidates are doing livestreams and short-form video clips to reach out to the voters under 30, which comprises over 20 percent of the electorate.
However, many social media-savvy young people are also growing increasingly disillusioned with politics, especially after former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's brief declaration of the martial law on the night of Dec. 3 last year.
"I do intend to vote. But since I'm not particularly interested in politics, I think I still need to give it some more thought. I feel like there's a lot of conflicts in South Korean politics right now, and I can't see a clear path to resolving them," said Eric Moon, a student in Seoul.
Some young voters question the sincerity of the candidates' digital campaigns.
"I saw the candidates on social media, and it felt a bit strange. I wondered if they're only trying to connect with us young people during the election season to promote themselves. But still, I think it could serve as a useful way to communicate with the public," said another South Korean student Jeannette Lee.
Many young voters, especially young women, feel their concerns are overlooked.
"Both parties and both candidates maybe need to listen more carefully to the young generation. And the young generation want to see both parties and candidates care their daily life, so like prices, our housing prices and the job security and then some kind of safety issue young generation concern," said Choi Hyun-sun, professor of Public Administration of Myongji University.
Polls indicate that Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, holds a substantial lead in the election, outpacing key rivals Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party.
Candidates targeting young voters in South Korean presidential election
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
