Young members of the People Power Party call "Answer youth's cry"...Direct hit on Lee's government

Young members of the People Power Party have stepped forward demanding a comprehensive review of youth policies ahead of "Youth Day," criticizing the Lee Jae-myung government's housing, employment, fiscal, and financial policies.

The People Power Party's Central Youth Committee, the party's University Students Committee, and the Youth Local Councilors Association issued a joint statement on the 18th titled "Government that abandoned youth, answer youth's cry," stating "Ahead of a day meant to encourage young people's dreams and challenges, we stand here not with celebration but with anger and demands," and put forward six demands to the Lee Jae-myung government.

First, they took issue with the government's real estate loan regulations. They argued that the government "blocked the path to homeownership for young people and ordinary citizens who have no choice but to rely on loans" by limiting mortgage loan limits for housing purchases in the Seoul metropolitan area and regulated areas to a maximum of 600 million won through its June 27 household debt measures last year.

Under the June 27 measures, the maximum limit for mortgage loans in the Seoul metropolitan area and regulated areas was newly set at 600 million won, and through subsequent measures, the limit for high-priced properties was lowered to 400 million or 200 million won.

They urged, "Immediately review uniform loan regulations that squeeze young people and ordinary citizens and present effective measures for homeownership."

Regarding the government's marriage and childbirth support measures, they argued that job creation measures should be prioritized.

The government is pursuing reforms to its marriage, childbirth, and childcare support system in its 2027 budget, including providing 1 million won to newlywed couples and a basic 10 million won to first-child households.

They stated, "What young people who haven't even crossed the threshold of employment need is not a few won but a place to stand," and demanded, "Present fundamental measures to create quality jobs rather than cash support."

Youth employment difficulties are indeed continuing in recent statistics. According to the National Data Center, the employment rate for youth aged 15-29 in August last year was 44.1%, down 1.0 percentage points from the same month the previous year, while the youth unemployment rate was 5.4%, up 0.5 percentage points. The number of employed people in their 20s decreased by 164,000 compared to a year ago.

They also raised personnel and election administration issues. They cited controversy over personnel decisions centered on "Seongnam and Gyeonggi connections" and a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, demanding "immediately stop unprincipled personnel appointments and pardons, and clearly take responsibility for election administration failures."

Regarding the government's long-term overdue debt adjustment policy, they demanded, "Prepare measures to eliminate reverse discrimination against young people faithfully repaying their debts."

They also called for consistency in youth asset-building policies. They said, "Stop changing only the names of policies with each change in administration and establish a consistent and predictable youth financial system."

They demanded six items: ▲review of loan regulations for young people and ordinary citizens seeking housing ▲discontinuation of cash and discretionary budgets and structural transformation of youth support ▲measures for quality job creation ▲clarification of responsibility for personnel and election administration ▲elimination of reverse discrimination against faithful repayers ▲establishment of a consistent youth asset-building system.

They further stated, "Young people are no longer spectators in politics," and "We will continue to question and demand accountability from the government for its misrule that jeopardizes young people's futures."