Q. How do you, or does your society, define young adult? ie. by age, marital status, or job status, etc.
A. Being a young adult is not a question of status. It is far more a question of self-identity. A young adult could be someone being 16 or 45 years old. It only matters where you see yourself and what life you live.
Q. In South Korea, younger people (young adult or millennials) are frustrated by high cost of education, unaffordable rent, and unemployment. In Germany, what is the most discouraging social reality for young people?
A. First of all I have to mention, that our country is economically better off than a lot of other European countries. But we are also facing the same challenges: affordable rents in the cities are a very big issue. But rents are only a basis problems. Even more difficult is the question, what to study? Everybody wants to have a job, which is also attractive in ten or twenty years ahead. That means we have to think about the industries, services and requirements the future is asking for. Here comes politics into the game. It is one task of politicians to translate between the needs of the people and the requirements of our economy.
Q. Do you think the current German government (whether federal or provincial) has adequate policies to aid young people? Are those policies profoundly improving their lives?
A. Although we are an elderly society due to our demographic trends, the government could do far more to support the future generations. There needs to be an improvement of our education system. We need more and better schools with less pupils per class and more qualified teachers. Our universities shouldn't be so crowded. Quality not quantity should matter. Another example is a rather unfair pension system: We need to link the pensionable age with the median life expectancy so that there will be drawn a real picture. The Junge Union has 120 000 members in Germany so we are the most important pressure group to penetrate governments with the needs of the young generation.
Q. Could you tell us an example of a (housing, education, or employment) policy that specifically aims to improve lives of youg people in Germany and explain why the policy has been successful?
A. For example our dual study program which transfers the principle of practice-oriented learning to university studies. It consists of several practical blocks at a company and studying phases at the university. This way Students gain practical knowledge alongside their studies and can earn a vocational diploma as well as a university degree.
We can prepare students for the practical day to day work and educated them way faster than at a usual university. The lack of engineers that we had a few years ago was awful for us as an industry nation. Now it's almost gone.
Q. Do political parties in Germany have strategies or special programs in order to draw millennials into political career?
A. To get people into politics you need to convince them. They have to see and understand, that you can make a difference when you join a political party. As a youth organisation of a political party you have to be very professional to offer a good service to your members. Our strategy is 50 percent political work and 50 percent partying. You can't expect from a new member to focus on certain topics and position himself right at the beginning. He has to be convinced that you are the right "club" to join.
Q. In Germany, what kind of efforts are there to properly represent the voice of young Germans and to materialize their needs?
A. As an organization we see ourselves as a pressure group and as a platform for dialogue. We try to bundle our discussions into a single voice for the German youth. We are not just organizing our congresses such as the annual "Deutschlandtag" with over 1000 guests, but also local events. Our federal system is giving every member the chance to contribute his thoughts and ideas on a subsidiary basis.
Q. What would be some practical ways to boost political participation of young people? And why is it important for the young to participate in politics?
A. Young people have to learn that they can really change things and influence politics. As an organization you have to make attractive offers. For young people it has to be cool to be active in politics so you have to make sure, that you have good an extraordinary events with interesting and inspiring speakers. Its way easier to contribute when you are having fun. So it's always a good idea to mix up politics with cultural and entertaining aspects.
Q. Any last words for (politically indifferent and sometimes pessimistic) millennials in South Korea?
A. Alone we are weak, only together people can make a difference. If you are unsatisfied you should never forget, that everything is man made and therefore can be changed my man. In a democracy a political party is the best place to have a strong influence on shaping society through legislation. If you will not decide where to go, somebody else will do it but without asking you. So you better take the chance and work on your future.
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