Seoul National University Professor Song Ho-keun said the axis of the campaign shifted from regions to generations, who reacted with a visceral emotion against established "values and traditional elements." Professor Yoo Sae-kyung of Ehwa Womans University noted it was a victory of those in their 20s to 30s and users of the Internet, and despite the lower turnout as a whole, their vote increased thanks to online campaigns. Prof. Yoo added that this generation is now set to become the leaders of the future.

Experts said the younger generation started to voice their opinion on current events through the Internet and discovered their potential as a political group through World Cup cheerleading events and the "candle light" demonstrations. Prof. Song added, "The recognition of the importance of the younger generation's opinion started with acknowledgement of their market power and is now expanding to social and economic policies."

Professor Kim Ho-ki of Yonsei University said the election could be called a generational revolution, as 20 and 30-year-olds were able to unite through the Internet, while the older generation failed to utilize this medium.

Perhaps because of the difference in the main mediums of expression, the supporters of conservatism and liberalism was seen to be divided into "20s and 30s" and "over 40s" age groups. And as conservatism supporters were seen to be "old," conservatism itself became something "old, rusty, and in need of change." Professor Jang Hoon of Chungang University says, "Conservatism was directly connected to votes in elections after 1987 until now. However, this time voter turnout of the younger generation reversed the trend and the idea that conservative supporters were the majority."

According to a Korea Gallup survey of 1,636 people on Election Day, 60.6 percent of those in their 20s and 60.5 percent in their 30s said they voted for Roh, while the Grand National Party's Lee Hoi-chang, his major opponent, garnered just 28.5 and 33.5 percent, respectively. In addition 43.9 percent in their 40s and 28.4 percent of 50-year-olds voted for the eventual winner, while a respective 46.6 and 63 percent cast their ballots in favor of Lee.

In the 1997 Presidential Election, Kim Dae-jung received 50.4 and 42.7 percent of votes from the 20s and 30s age bracket.

That the generational effect is overcoming regionalism was demonstrated by many 20-year-olds in the Yeongnam (South and North Gyeongsang Provinces) region, the GNP's power base voted for Roh. According to a poll of 40,000 by Media Research, in South Gyeongsang Province (including Busan) 42 percent of those in their 20s and 40.3 percent in their 30s voted for the MDP candidate, as did 31.6 percent and 28.4 percent in the northern province (including Daegu).

So the new issue is how to coordinate the different opinions and close the gap to actually run the country, scholars say. Prof. Kim says, " It's worrying that members of a society are divided by age in political preference. We should think about how to coordinate opinions to moderation."

Professor Na Seong-lin of Hanyang University noted, " The liberalism that is apparent now has emotional and spontaneous elements. Also, it seems that supporters believe in equality without acknowledging the recognition of awards for hard work. Endorsement of this kind of 'negative equality' is another element of the current liberalism."

Experts note that this generation will be the main players in Korean society and will rapidly change it, in conjunction with those who experienced democratization and people born in the 90s. They say these younger generations used "Red Devil" style and cyber campaigns in contrast to the old practice of big rallies and "vote buying."

(Chosun Ilbo 2002 Election Coverage Team)