Youth members affiliated with YMCA in Jeonju, Gunsan, Jinan, Jangsu, and Suncheon regions are set to hold a 'Youth Mock Election Jeonbuk Launch Ceremony' on May 10th (Friday) at 11 a.m. in front of the Pungpaeji Hall in Jeonju in preparation for the 21st presidential election.

This event is part of a mock voting campaign where youth without voting rights participate as political agents, aiming for the participation of 10,000 youths in Jeonbuk and 100,000 nationwide. In Jeonbuk, youth from Jeonju YMCA, Gunsan YMCA, Suncheon YMCA, Jangsu YMCA, and Jinan YMCA have united to form the 'Jeonbuk YMCA Youth Mock Election Preparation Committee' and have started activities under the slogan "A South Korea where youth are visible."

The youth mock election is gaining attention as a proactive political participation movement designed and operated directly by the youth themselves, going beyond a simple election experience. Through expressing opinions and participating in politics, the youth aim to raise awareness of themselves as democratic citizens.

This campaign is jointly organized by the National YMCA of Korea, the Korean Youth Policy Association, and the National Representatives of Youth YMCA, and will be conducted through a mock vote that encompasses both online and offline platforms. The Jeonbuk YMCA Youth Mock Election Preparation Committee plans to focus on organizing participating youth organizations as regional hubs.

The organizers stated, "This activity will not be a one-time event but will serve as a catalyst for social discussions on expanding and institutionalizing youth participation in decision-making," adding, "Countries like the United States, Germany, and Japan have already institutionalized youth mock elections, and our society should also support it institutionally."

The Jeonbuk YMCA Youth Mock Election Preparation Committee hopes to confirm that youth are not just 'future voters' but 'today's democratic citizens,' and anticipates that their political participation will become a force for change in the local community and society.