Improvement of the Legal Systems for Guaranteeing the Basic Political Rights of Adolescents

This study aims to examine the meaning and key issues of adolescents’ political fundamental rights as embodied in the Constitution and statutes, and to propose reforms to the legal and institutional framework for their protection. While lowering the voting age and the minimum age for party membership has often been highlighted in discussions on adolescents’ political rights, these remain only superficial aspects, a nd s ubseq uent d ebates h ave scarcely a dvanced since the relevant legislative amendments. Following the revisions of the Public Official Election Act and the Political Parties Act in 2020 and 2022, certain political rights of adolescents that had previously been reserved by law have been expanded. Nevertheless, inconsistencies remain in related provisions that should apply uniform age standards, such as restrictions on electioneering, the requirement of legal guardian consent for party membership under the age of 18, and the granting of referendum rights only to those aged 19 and older. Further consideration is required for reforms that would allow adolescents to participate in political activities in everyday life, including lowering the age threshold for membership in residents’ self-governing councils, including student representatives in school management committees, ensuring the representativeness of youth advisory committees, and enabling their participation in policy decision-making. Above all, it is essential to expand opportunities for direct participation and political education so that adolescents may practice mature democracy as fellow citizens.