Voting rights must be given to high school seniors who have reached the age of 18.

Korea has established a standard of eighteen years old for most national procedures. For example, a state identification card or a driver's license are to be issued beginning at the age of 18. Joining the army and taking the civil service examination are also possible from the age of 18. However, the qualification of an elector is based on an age of 19, although voting is the most basic part of the national process. This is completely inconsistent and unfair criterion.

The main reason cited to prevent 18 year olds from voting is their immaturity. The privileged few said youths are still immature and not old enough to vote. But this is only an opinion without a clear basis. It is a contradiction that it is possible to take the civil service exam and become employed as a person who is responsible for national affairs as well as issuing licenses, but not vote. Many other countries already invest people who are 18 years of age with the right to vote. The neighboring country of Japan has also reduced the age of voting rights from 20 to 18 in 2015.

Korea is a democratic country and the right to vote is the most representative part in a democracy. However, the structure in which voting rights are limited as in this case is not democracy. In addition, I think youths who have reached the age of 18 can think and decide their own intentions clearly. So, I think it is desirable to allow them to exercise their right to vote.

L.L.F reporter Eun-young Kim

As far as I am concerned, I strongly disagree with this argument.

First off, allowing students to vote can make schools contaminated by politics. It does not take a genius to know that people who are 18 years old are tied up with their studying, even career decisions. If Korea allows students who are 18 years old to vote, there would be an increase of about 463 constituents based on the 19th presidential election. To win their hearts, many candidates would work their election campaign around the schools where students are striving to achieve their goals. Students may be disturbed by the candidates' campaign songs, the sound of microphones, and so on. This would reflect negatively on students' grades and even their future.

Furthermore, admitting students who are 18 years old to vote causes them to require more rights like smoking or drinking. If Korea gives them the right to vote, it possibly means they are mature enough to fully participate in society. In this case, some people might think they have already become adults, and someday, they would probably demonstrate against the society holding signs like "Give us the right for freedom."

To summarize, I strongly disagree that students who are 18 years old should have the right to vote. It would cause a disturbance in their studies and lead to calls for more rights that would be a bad influence on their young lives. Citizens should get the right to vote for the president after studying hard and getting more experience in society.

L.L.F reporter Ji-won Park