Gender polarization of youth in the modern Republic of Korea

The article examines the evolution of South Korean Internet culture from the late 1990s to the 2020s and its role in shaping gender conflicts and the electoral preferences of the young generation in the Republic of Korea. The main purpose of the study is to analyze the factors contributing to the formation of the youth political agenda in contemporary South Korea, with a focus on the role of Internet culture, digital discourse, and gender conflicts. Since the late 1990s, South Korean Internet culture has evolved from spontaneous anonymous online discussions into a significant factor in the country’s socio-political life. Internet neologisms, which initially emerged as a form of satirical expression, have gradually transformed into ideological markers and a means of articulating collective sentiment. By the early 2020s, online conflicts and their language, as well as digital activism, have significantly influenced the transformation of youth identity and political self-determination, gradually becoming part of populist politics. The 2022 and 2025 presidential elections demonstrated the growing polarization of the electoral behavior of the young generation, which is associated with the candidates’ statements on issues relevant to youth, including gender discrimination. Social networks and online platforms have contributed to the intensification of gender polarization in South Korean society, while simultaneously providing young people with new forms of political participation. The use of digital communities and the rhetoric of “justice” by political leaders such as Yoon Suk-yeol and Lee Jun-seok illustrates the institutionalization of Internet discourse within electoral politics and the transformation of “online” identities into a tangible political force.